Factor VIII variants having a decreased cellular uptake

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to modified coagulation factors. In particular, the present invention relates to modied Factor VIII molecules having decreased cellular uptake.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/862,934, filed Sep. 23, 2015 (now abandoned), which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/822,942, filed Nov. 8, 2013 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,321,827, issued Apr. 26, 2016), which is a 35 U.S.C. § 371 National Stage application of International Application PCT/EP2011/065913 (WO 2012/035050), filed Sep. 14, 2011, which claimed priority of European Patent Applications 10176731.7, filed Sep. 15, 2010 and 11173768.0, filed Jul. 13, 2011; this application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of U.S. Provisional Applications 61/384,731, filed Sep. 21, 2010 and 61/507,666; filed Jul. 14, 2011; the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

SEQUENCE LISTING

The instant application contains a Sequence Listing which has been submitted in ASCII format via EFS-Web and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Said ASCII copy, created on Mar. 4, 2013 (modified on Nov. 16, 2016), from U.S. application Ser. No. 13/822,942, is named “8219US05_SeqList” and is 108 kilobytes in size.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to modified coagulation factors. The present invention more specifically relates to modified coagulation factors having decreased cellular uptake resulting in a decreased rate of clearance/cellular uptake and/or reduced immunogenicity. The invention furthermore relates to use of such molecules as well as methods for producing such molecules.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Haemophilia A is an inherited bleeding disorder caused by deficiency or dysfunction of coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) activity. The clinical manifestation is not on primary haemostasis as formation of the initial blood clot occurs normally. Rather the clot is unstable due to a lack of secondary thrombin formation and fibrin stabilization of the primary clot. The disease is treated by intravenous injection of FVIII which is either isolated from blood or produced recombinantly. Development of neutralizing antibodies (inhibitors) against FVIII occurs in approximately 20-40% of severe harmophilia A patients after FVIII administration, rendering further treatment with FVIII ineffective. Induction of inhibitors thus provides a major complication in haemophilia care. Current treatment recommendations are moving from traditional on-demand treatment towards prophylaxis. The circulatory half life of endogenous FVIII bound to von Willebrand Factor (vWF) is 12-14 hours and prophylactic treatment is thus to be performed several times a week in order to obtain a virtually symptom-free life for the patients. Intravenous administration is for many, especially children and young persons, associated with significant inconvenience and/or pain. Various methods have been employed in the development of a FVIII variant with significantly prolonged circulatory half life. A number of these methods relate to conjugation of FVIII with hydrophilic polymers such as e.g. PEG (poly ethylene glycol). WO03031464 discloses an enzymatic approach where PEG groups can be attached to glycans present on the polypeptide.

It has also been suggested to modulate low density lipoprotein receptor related protein (LRP) mediated clearance of FVIII in order to obtain a FVIII variant with a decreased rate of cellular uptake/clearance and thus an increased in vivo circulatory half life, but this approach has been hampered by the apparent massive redundancy of potential LRP binding sites present on the surface of FVIII and uncertainty on the role of these. Furthermore, some of these sites are in close vicinity to regions critical for FVIII:C activity, and a lowered LRP binding may be accompanied by a substantial loss of activity which makes the FVIII variant less attractive as a therapeutic agent. Interaction of LRP and related receptors with its ligands is thought to involve lysine residues on the surface of the ligand docking in an acidic “necklace” in the receptor (Mol Cell 2006; 22: 277-283). It has furthermore been suggested that hydrophobic residues, in combination with lysine residues, may be involved in interaction with LRP-family members (FEBS J 2006; 273: 5143-5159, J Mol Biol 2006; 362: 700-716) and it could therefore be speculated if modification of these hydrophobic residues, in addition to critical lysine residues or other positively charged residues, could result in decreased interaction with LRP family members and potentially prolonged and/or decreased clearance.

In order to be of therapeutic interest, FVIII variants should retain FVIII procoagulant function. It thus follows that there is a need in the art for specific FVIII variants with maintained FVIII activity and a significantly prolonged in vivo circulatory half life and/or reduced immunogenicity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention thus relates to a recombinant FVIII variant having FVIII activity, wherein said variant comprises a substitution of two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine or ten surface accessible positively charged residues in FVIII C1 and/or C2 domains termed “C1 foot” and/or the “C2 foot”, wherein said surface accessible positively charged amino acid residues, such as e.g. lysine, arginine, or histidine residues are substituted with, but not limited to, alanine or glutamine, and wherein the substitutions result in decreased cellular uptake. The present invention furthermore relates to a recombinant FVIII variant, wherein said FVIII variant comprises a K2092A substitution and a F2093A substitution, wherein said variant is conjugated with a half life extending moiety, such as e.g. PEG. The present invention also relates to a recombinant FVIII variant having FVIII activity, wherein said variant comprises a mutation that results in an additional glycosylation site, wherein the glycan in said glycosylation site confers a reduced ability to bind to the KM33 antibody.

The FVIII variants according to the present invention have a decreased cellular uptake associated with an increased circulatory half life. The FVIII variants according to the invention may furthermore have the advantage of having decreased LRP binding. The FVIII variants according to the invention may furthermore have the advantage of having reduced immunogenicity compared to FVIII molecules without this type of mutations. The explanation for the reduced immunogenicity may be that positively charged residues are substituted in the C1 and/or C2 feet of FVIII resulting in decreased uptake in cells responsible for presenting FVIII to the immune system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1: Surface model of the x-ray crystallographic structure of FVIII (pdb entry code 3cdz) shown in front and back orientations. The positions of A1, A2, A3, C1 and C2 domains are indicated. Lysine and arginine residues are in black.

FIG. 2: Surface model of the x-ray crystallographic structure of FVIII (pdb entry code 3cdz) highlighting FVIII's C1 and C2 domains. The lower part of the C1 and C2 domains are in white depicting their putative membrane binding regions denoted the C1 foot and C2 foot, respectively. Lysine and arginine residues are in black.

FIG. 3: Hydrogen exchange (HX) monitored by mass spectrometry identifies regions of FVIII involved in the 4F30 and KM33 binding (A) Mass/charge spectra corresponding to the peptide fragment 2078-2095, ([M+H]⁺=672.3818, z=3), identified to be part of the epitope of both 4F30 and KM33 binding to FVIII. (B) Mass/charge spectra corresponding to the peptide fragment 2148-2161, (m/z=565.6554, z=3), identified to be part of the epitope of both 4F30 and KM33 binding to FVIII. For all spectra the upper panels show the non-deuterated controls, second, panel shows the peptide after 10 sec in-exchange with D₂O in the absence ligand, third and fourth panels show the peptide after 10 sec in-exchange with D₂O in the presence of 4F30 and KM33, respectively.

FIG. 4: Hydrogen exchange time-plots of representative peptides of FVIII in the presence of both 4F30 and KM33. Deuterium incorporation (Da) of FVIII peptides is plotted against time on a logarithmic scale in the absence (solid square) or presence of either 4F30 (open triangle) or KM33 (open square). Peptides covering residues aa 2062-2073 and 2163-2168 represent regions of FVIII that are unaffected by complex formation with both 4F30 and KM33. Peptides covering residues aa 2078-2095, and 2148-2161 represent regions of FVIII that are part of the binding epitope of both 4F30 and KM33.

FIG. 5: Sequence coverage of HX analyzed peptides of FVIII in the presence of KM33 and 4F30. The primary sequence (using mature numbering; horizontal panel A: aa 2062-2100 and horizontal panel B: aa 2139-2168) is displayed above the HX analyzed peptides (shown as horizontal bars). Peptides showing similar exchange patterns both in the presence and absence of both 4F30 and KM33 are displayed with no fills (open bars) whereas peptides showing reduced deuterium incorporation upon of both 4F30 and KM33 binding are filled in black (closed bars).

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Definitions

Factor VIII molecules: FVIII/Factor VIII is a large, complex glycoprotein that primarily is produced by hepatocytes. Human FVIII consists of 2351 amino acids, including signal peptide, and contains several distinct domains, as defined by homology. There are three A-domains, a unique B-domain, and two C-domains. The domain order can be listed as NH₂-A1-A2-B-A3-C1-C2-COOH. FVIII circulates in plasma as two chains, separated at the B-A3 border. The chains are connected by bivalent metal ion-bindings. The A1-A2-B chain is termed the heavy chain (HC) while the A3-C1-C2 is termed the light chain (LC).

“C1 foot” and “C2 foot”: In the context of the present invention, the “C1 foot” is defined as the region of the C1 domain that has the capacity of non-covalently anchoring the FVIII molecule/FVIII variant to anionic membranes comprising phosphatidyl-L-serine found e.g. on platelets. In FIG. 1 a surface model of the x-ray crystallographic structure of FVIII (pdb entry code 3cdz) is shown in front and back orientations. The positions of A1, A2, A3, C1 and C2 domains are indicated. Lysine and arginine residues are in black showing their wide distribution. The C1 foot is shown in white in the model of FVIII shown in FIG. 2. More specifically, the following C1 amino acids are likely anchored in the phospholipid membrane, in connection with e.g. platelet binding, and are thus a part of the C1 foot: 2029-2035+2043-2069+2090-2100+2130-2136+2156-2163. The inventors of the present invention have surprisingly shown that mutation of each of the 2065, 2090, and 2092 residues will result in biologically active FVIII variants having decreased LRP binding—in particular when these residues are substituted with, but not limited to, either a glutamine or an alanine residue, depending on the surface accessible area of the residue.

In the context of the present invention, the “C2 foot” is defined as the region of the C2 domain that likely has the capacity of anchoring the FVIII molecule/FVIII variant to anionic membranes comprising phosphatidyl-L-serine found e.g. on platelets. The C2 foot is shown in white in the model of FVIII shown in FIG. 2. More specifically, the following C2 amino acids are anchored in the phospholipid layer, in connection with e.g. platelet binding, and are thus a part of the C2 foot: 2195-2227+2248-2258+2287-2291+2313-2320. The inventors of the present invention have shown that mutation of one of the surface exposed lysine or arginine residues in the C2 foot (either R2215 or K2249) will result in biologically active FVIII variants having decreased LRP binding—in particular when these residues are substituted with, but not limited to, either a glutamine residue or an alanine residue, depending on the surface accessibility of the residue. The inventors have furthermore shown that a FVIII variant comprising both a substitution in the C1 foot and one in the C2 foot displays decreased LRP binding as well as maintained FVIII:C activity.

Surface accessible charged residue/positively charged residue/lysine or arginine residues in the FVIII C1 and/or the C2 foot: The accessible surface area (ASA) is the surface area of a biomolecule or parts of a biomolecular surface (e.g. a single amino acid side chain) that is accessible to a solvent. The ASA is usually quoted in square ångstrom (a standard unit of measurement in molecular biology). ASA was first described by Lee & Richards in 1971 and is sometimes called the Lee-Richards molecular surface [B. Lee and F. M. Richards, “The Interpretation of Protein Structures: Estimation of Static Accessibility” J. Mol. Biol. 55, 379-400 (1971)].

The surface accesibilities can be calculated with the computer program Quanta 2005 from Accelrys Inc. using the atomic coordinates originating from e.g. x-ray structures. The relative surface accessibility of an amino acid side chain is the actual surface accessible area divided by the maximum accessible surface area as determined for the single amino acid. The ASA is calculated from the x-ray crystallographic structure of FVIII with pdb entry code 3cdz. If the relative surface accessibility is less than 20%, the residue is mutated to glutamine in order to prevent local collapse of the protein surface. Charged surface accessible amino acid residues, preferably positively charged amino acid residues, preferably lysine and/or arginine residues in the C1 and/or C2 foot can thus be selected for amino acid substitution in order to arrive at a FVIII variant having decreased cellular uptake and optionally also decreased LRP binding/LRP mediated clearance.

“Factor VIII” or “FVIII” as used herein refers to a human plasma glycoprotein that is a member of the intrinsic coagulation pathway and is essential to blood coagulation. “Native FVIII” is the full length human FVIII molecule as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 (amino acid 1-2332). The B-domain is spanning amino acids 741-1648 in SEQ ID NO: 1.

SEQ ID NO: 1 (wt human FVIII): ATRRYYLGAVELSWDYMQSDLGELPVDARFPPRVPKSFPFNTSVVYKKTLFVEFTDHLF- NIAKPRPPWMGLLGPTIQAEVYDTVVITLKNMASHPVSLHAVGVSYW- KASEGAEYDDQTSQREKEDDKVFPGGSHTYVWQVLKENGPMASDPLCLTYSYLSH- VDLVKDLNSGLIGALLVCREGSLAKEKTQTLHKFILLFAVFDEGKSWHSETKNSLMQDRDAA- SARAWPKMHTVNGYVNRSLPGLIGCHRKSVYWHVIGMGTTPEVHSIFLEGHTFLVRNHR- QASLEISPITFLTAQTLLMDLGQFLLFCHISSHQHDGMEAYVKVDSCPEEPQLRMKN- NEEAEDYDDDLTDSEMDVVRFDDDNSPSFIQIRSVAKKHPKTWVHYIAAEEED- WDYAPLVLAPDDRSYKSQYLNNGPQRIGRKYKKVRFMAYTDETFKTREAIQHESGILGPLLY- GEVGDTLLIIFKNQASRPYNIYPHGITDVRPLYSRRL- PKGVKHLKDFPILPGEIFKYKWTVTVEDGPTKSDPRCLTRYYSSFVNMERDLASGLIG- PLLICYKESVDQRGNQIMSDKRNVILFSVFDENRSWYLTENIQRFLPNPAGVQLEDPEFQAS- NIMHSINGYVFDSLQLSVCLHEVAYWYILSIGAQTDFLSVFFSGYTFKHKMVYEDTLTLF- PFSGETVFMSMENPGLWILGCHNSDFRNRGMTALLKVSSCDKNTGDYYEDSYED- ISAYLLSKNNAIEPRSFSQNSRHPSTRQKQFNATTIPENDIEKTDPWFAHRTPMP- KIQNVSSSDLLMLLRQSPTPHGLSLSDLQEAKYETFSDDPSPGAIDSNNSLSEMTH- FRPQLHHSGDMVFTPESGLQLRLNEKLGTTAATELKKLDFKVSSTSNN- LISTIPSDNLAAGTDNTSSLGPPSMPVHYDSQLDTTLFGKKSSPLTESGG- PLSLSEENNDSKLLESGLMNSQESS- WGKNVSSTESGRLFKGKRAHGPALLTKDNALFKVSISLLKTNKTSNNSATNRKTHIDGPSLLIEN SPSVWQNILESDTEFKKVTPLIHDRMLMDKNATALRLNHMSNKTTSSKNMEMVQQKKEG- PIPPDAQNPDMSFFKMLFLPESARWIQRTHGKNSLNSGQGP- SPKQLVSLGPEKSVEGQNFLSEKNKVVVGKGEFTKDVGLKEMVFPSSRNLFLTNLD- NLHENNTHNQEKKIQEEIEKKETLIQENVVLPQIHTVTGTKNFMKNLFLLSTRQNVEGSYDGA- YAPVLQDFRSLNDSTNRTKKHTAHFSKKGEEENLEGLGNQTKQIVEKYACTTRISP- NTSQQNFVTQRSKRALKQFRLPLEETELEKRIIVDDTSTQWSKNMKHLTPSTLTQI- DYNEKEKGAITQSPLSDCLTRSHSIPQANRSPLPIAKVSS- FPSIRPIYLTRVLFQDNSSHLPAASYRK- KDSGVQESSHFLQGAKKNNLSLAILTLEMTGDQREVGSLGTSATNSVTYKKVENTVLPKPDLP KTSGKVELLPKVHIYQKDLFPTETSNGSPGHLDLVEGSLLQGTEGAIK- WNEANRPGKVPFLRVATESSAKTPSKLLDPLAWDNHYGTQIPKEEWKSQEKSPEKTAF- KKKDTILSLNACESNHAIAAINEGQNKPEIEVTWAKQGRTERLCSQNPPVLKRHQREITRT- TLQSDQEEIDYDDTISVEMKKEDFDIYDEDENQSPRSFQKKTRHYFI- AAVERLWDYGMSSSPHVLRNRAQSGSVPQFKKVVFQEFTDGSFTQPLYRGELNEH- LGLLGPYIRAEVEDNIMVTFRNQASRPYSFYSSLISYEEDQRQGAEPRKNFVKPNETK- TYFWKVQHHMAPTKDEFDCKAWAYFSDVDLEKDVHSGLIG- PLLVCHTNTLNPAHGRQVTVQEFALFFTIFDETKSVVYFTENMERN- CRAPCNIQMEDPTFKENYRFHAINGYIMDTLPGLVMAQDQRIRWYLLSMGSNE- NIHSIHFSGHVFTVRKKEEYKMALYNLYPGVFETVEM- LPSKAGIWRVECLIGEHLHAGMSTLFLVYSNKCQTPLGMASGHIRDFQITASGQYGQWAP- KLARLHYSGSINAWSTKEPFSWIKVDLLAPMIIHGIKTQGARQKFSSLYISQFIIMYSLD- GKKWQTYRGNSTGTLMVFFGNVDSSGIKHNIFNPPIIARYIRLHPTHYSIRSTLR- MELMGCDLNSCSMPLGMESKAISDAQITASSYFTNMFAT- WSPSKARLHLQGRSNAWRPQVNNPKEWLQVDFQKTMKVTGVTTQGVKSLLTSMYVKE- FLISSSQDGHQWTLFFQNGKVKVFQGNQDSFTPVVNSLDPPLLTRYLRI- HPQSWVHQIALRMEVLGCEAQDLY

The FVIII molecules/variants according to the present invention may be B domain deleted or B domain truncated FVIII molecules wherein the remaining domains correspond closely to the sequence as set forth in amino acid no 1-740 and 1649-2332 in SEQ ID NO: 1. However, B domain truncated molecules according to the invention may differ slight from the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, meaning that the remaining domains (i.e. the three A-domains and the two C-domains) may differ slightly e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20 amino acids from the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 (amino acids 1-740 and 1649-2332) due to the fact that mutations can be introduced in order to e.g. reduce vWF binding capacity. Furthermore, one or two amino acid substitutions are introduced in the C1 and/or the C2 foot in order to modify the binding capacity of FVIII for LRP. It is, however, possible that the FVIII variants according to the present invention furthermore comprise lysine substitutions in other places on the surface of the molecule in order to further modify LRP binding. Additional amino acid substitutions, deletions, or additions may also be introduced in order to modulate the properties of the FVIII variant according to the invention. Finally, amino acid substitutions may be introduced in the FVIII variants according to the present invention in order to increase the intramolecular stability of the molecule.

FVIII molecules according to the present invention have FVIII activity also termed FVIII:C or FVIII:C activity, meaning the ability to function in the coagulation cascade in a manner functionally similar or equivalent to FVIII, induce the formation of FXa via interaction with FIXa on an activated platelet, and support the formation of a blood clot. The activity can be assessed in vitro by techniques well known in the art such as e.g. measurement of FX activation in a chromogenic assay, clot analysis using FVIII-deficient plasma, thrombin generation assays, thromboelastography etc. FVIII molecules according to the present invention have FVIII activity being at least about 10%, at least 20%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, and 100% or even more than 100% of that of native human FVIII.

Intramolecular stability of FVIII (intrinsic stability): The “intrinsic stability” of FVIII variants according to the invention may sometimes be referred to as the “stability”, the “physical stability”, the “inherent stability”, the “structural stability”, the “chemical stability”, “intrinsic stability”, the “in vitro stability”, the “thermodynamic stability”, the “thermal stability”, the “folding stability” etc. and depends on environmental conditions in a complex way. The common theme for such terms is that they refer to the in vitro stability of the polypeptide and this in vitro stability can be seen as the sum of the forces in the polypeptide that stabilize the relatively small ensemble of folded conformations. There are significant differences between FVIII in vivo stability and in vitro stability because FVIII is subject to a large number of clearance mechanisms in vivo. It has thus far not been possible to obtain a prolonged in vivo circulatory half life with FVIII variants having improved in vitro stability. The in vitro stability of the FVIII variants according to the invention can be improved by e.g. insertion of stabilizing disulfide bridges, insertion of additional hydrophobic amino acids that can form intramolecular hydrophobic interactions, insertion of positive and negative amino acids that will form electrostatic interactions, etc.

Conjugation of FVIII with various side chains is known in the art as a mean for obtaining a prolonged circulatory half life of FVIII. It has previously been demonstrated that circulatory half-life can be increased approximately 2-fold, i.e., to about 24 hours, by e.g. conjugation of the FVIII molecule. The intrinsic stability of wt FVIII, as determined by a half-life in TAP/hirudin anti-coagulated plasma at 37° C. is about 30 hours which coincides with the longest circulatory half life reported for a FVIII variant.

There may however be an unexpected synergy effect in the combination of C1 and/or C2 foot lysine or arginine substitutions with e.g. increasing the in vitro stability of FVIII and/or e.g. conjugating the FVIII variant with a side chain. An additional surprising synergy effect that may be obtained with molecules according to the present invention is that the resulting FVIII variants may furthermore posses a significantly increased specific activity resulting in a more potent molecule.

B domain truncated/deleted FVIII molecule: The B domain in FVIII spans amino acids 741-1648 in SEQ ID NO: 1. The B domain is cleaved at several different sites, generating large heterogeneity in circulating plasma FVIII molecules. The exact function of the heavily glycosylated B domain is unknown. What is known is that the domain is dispensable for FVIII activity in the coagulation cascade. Recombinant FVIII is thus frequently produced in the form of B domain deleted/truncated variants.

Endogenous full length FVIII is synthesized as a single-chain precursor molecule. Prior to secretion, the precursor is cleaved into the heavy chain and the light chain. Recombinant B domain-deleted FVIII can be produced from two different strategies. Either the heavy chain without the B domain and the light chain are synthesized individually as two different polypeptide chains (two-chain strategy) or the B domain deleted FVIII is synthesized as a single precursor polypeptide chain (single-chain strategy) that is cleaved into the heavy and light chains in the same way as the full-length FVIII precursor.

In a B domain-deleted FVIII precursor polypeptide prepared by the single-chain strategy, the heavy and light chain moieties are normally separated by a linker. To minimize the risk of introducing immunogenic epitopes in the B domain-deleted FVIII, the sequence of the linker is preferable derived from the FVIII B domain. As a minimum, the linker must comprise a recognition site for the protease that cleaves the B domain-deleted FVIII precursor polypeptide into the heavy and light chain. In the B domain of full length FVIII, amino acid 1644-1648 constitutes this recognition site. The thrombin site leading to removal of the linker on activation of B domain-deleted FVIII is located in the heavy chain. Thus, the size and amino acid sequence of the linker is unlikely to influence its removal from the remaining FVIII molecule by thrombin activation. Deletion of the B domain is an advantage for production of FVIII. Nevertheless, parts of the B domain can be included in the linker without reducing the productivity. The negative effect of the B domain on productivity has not been attributed to any specific size or sequence of the B domain. According to a preferred embodiment, the truncated B domain comprises only one potential 0-glycosylation sites and one or more side groups/moieties are covalently conjugated to this 0-glycosylation site, preferably via a linker.

The O-linked oligosaccharides in the B-domain truncated molecules according to the invention may be attached to O-glycosylation sites that were either artificially created by recombinant means and/or by generation of new O-glycosylation sites by truncation of the B domain. An example of a truncated 0-glycosylated FVIII B domain is: SFSQNSRHPSQNPPVLKRHQR (SEQ ID NO: 2). Such molecules may be made by designing a B domain trunctated FVIII amino acid sequence and subsequently subjecting the amino acid sequence to an in silico analysis predicting the probability of O-glycosylation sites in the truncated B domain. Molecules with a relatively high probability of having such glycosylation sites can be synthesized in a suitable host cell followed by analysis of the glycosylation pattern and subsequent selection of molecules having O-linked glycosylation in the truncated B domain.

The FVIII molecule also contains a number of N-linked oligosaccharides and each of these may potentially serve as an anchor for attachment of a half life extending side group/moiety.

The maximal length of the B domain in the wt FVIII molecule is about 907 amino acids. The length of the truncated B domain in molecules according to the present invention may vary from about 10 to about 800 amino acids, such as e.g. from about 10 amino acids to about 700 acids, such as e.g. about 12-500 amino acids, 12-400 amino acids, 12-300 amino acids, 12-200 amino acids, 15-100 amino acids, 15-75 amino acids, 15-50 amino acids, 15-45 amino acids, 20-45 amino acids, 20-40 amino acids, or 20-30 amino acids. The truncated B domain may comprise fragments of the heavy chain and/or the light chain and/or an artificially introduced sequence that is not found in the wt FVIII molecule. The terms “B-domain truncated” and “B-domain deleted” may be used interchangeably herein.

Modified circulatory half life: Molecules according to the present invention may have a modified in vivo circulatory half life compared to the wild type FVIII molecule, preferably an increased circulatory half life. Circulatory half life is preferably increased at least 10%, preferably at least 15%, preferably at least 20%, preferably at least 25%, preferably at least 30%, preferably at least 35%, preferably at least 40%, preferably at least 45%, preferably at least 50%, preferably at least 55%, preferably at least 60%, preferably at least 65%, preferably at least 70%, preferably at least 75%, preferably at least 80%, preferably at least 85%, preferably at least 90%, preferably at least 95%, preferably at least 100%, more preferably at least 125%, more preferably at least 150%, more preferably at least 175%, more preferably at least 200%, and most preferably at least 250% or 300%. Even more preferably, such molecules have a circulatory half life that is increased at least 400%, 500%, 600%, or even 700%. The following method for measuring in vivo circulatory half life can be used: FVIII is administered intravenously to FVIII deficient mice e.g. FVIII exon 16 knock out (KO) mice with c57bl/6 background bread at Taconic M&B, or vWF-deficient mice e.g. vWF exon 4+5 KO mice with mixed SV129 and c57bl/6 background bred at Charles River, Germany. The vWF-KO mice had 13% of normal FVIII:C, while the FVIII-KO mice had no detectable FVIII:C. The mice receive a single intravenous injection of rFVIII (280 IU/kg) in the tail vein. Blood are taken from the orbital plexus at time points up to 64 hours after dosing using non-coated capillary glass tubes. Three samples are taken from each mouse, and 2 to 4 samples are collected at each time point. Blood are immediately stabilized with sodium citrate and diluted in four volumes buffer (50 mM Tris, 150 mM NaCl, 1% BSA, pH 7.3, with preservative) before 5 min centrifugation at 4000×g. Plasma obtained from diluted blood are frozen on dry ice and kept at −80° C. The FVIII:C are determined in a chromogenic assay essentially as described in example 3. FVIII antigen can be measured by ELISA e.g. Asserachrom® VIIIC:Ag from Diagnostica Stago. Pharmacokinetic analysis can be carried out by e.g. non-compartmental methods (NCA) using winnonlin pro version 4.1 software.

Antibodies: The term “antibody” herein refers to a protein, derived from a germline immunoglobulin sequence, capable of specifically binding to an antigen or a portion thereof. The term includes full length antibodies of any isotype (that is, IgA, IgE, IgG, IgM and/or IgY) and any single chain thereof. The site on the antiben to which an antibody binds is called the epitope. Full-length antibodies usually comprise at least four polypeptide chains: that is, two heavy (H) chains and two light (L) chains that are interconnected by disulfide bonds. The antibody can be dissected into the antigen binding Fab fragments and the Fc domain which binds to various Fc receptors. “Single-chain Fv” or “scFv” antibody fragments comprise the VH and VL domains of an antibody, where these domains are present in a single polypeptide chain.

Immunogenicity of FVIII: Patients with severe hemophilia A have less than 1% FVIII and their immune system may therefore respond to therapeutic FVIII administration as a foreign antigen, in particular in connection with high intensity treatment following major bleedings. Neutralizing antibodies to FVIII (inhibitors) typically map to certain areas within the A2 domain and the light chain, in particular the C2 domain (J Thromb Haemost 2004; 2:1082-1095; Blood 2007; 110: 4234-4242). Uptake by dendritic cells and macrophages is believed to be the initial step in presenting FVIII to the immune system in (J Thromb Haemost 2009; 7: 1816-1823).

Macrophage mannose receptors have been suggested to be involved in FVIII uptake by these antigen presenting cells (Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2007; 104: 8965-8970) while LRP appears not to be involved (Haematologica 2008; 93: 83-89). The subsequent development of inhibitors is a T-cell dependent immune response. A single CD4+ T-cell epitope has been identified and confirmed within a peptide spanning amino acid 2098-2112 in the C1 domain while no other 15-mer peptides spanning the entire A1-A2-A3-C1-C2 domains were confirmed positive (J Thromb Haemost 2005; 3: 991-1000). Mutations of two amino acids in the peptide, i.e. M2104 and L2107, resulted in decreased T-cell proliferation. In another study, T cell epitopes were analysed within the A2, C1 and C2 domains and amino acid residues R2220, F2196, N2198, M2199, L2200 and R2215 in C2 were found to be of particular importance for eliciting a T-cell response (WO 2011/060372). Also a B-cell epitope in the A2 domain may have a role in generation of an immune response as FVIII-R484A/R489A/P492A induced lower level of inhibitory anti FVIII antibodies in a haemophilia A mice model than wt FVIII (Blood 2004; 104: 704-710). It thus follows that different investigators have identified different epitopes in FVIII to be involved in the immune response to FVIII, and that there is no common agreement on where in FVIII to introduce substitutions in order to generate a less immunogenic FVIII molecule. Immunogenicity of FVIII is typically assessed in hemophilia A mice models carrying the native murine (Thromb Haemost 1999; 81: 240-244) or (part of) the humane MHC class II repetoire (Haemophilia 2010; 16 suppl 5: 47-53), in animal models where tolerance to human FVIII has been induced (Haemophilia 2010; 16 suppl 5: 47-53), or in human T-cell response assays (Thromb Haemost 2000; 84: 643-652; WO 2011/060372), although it is not known if any of these models are predictive for the human clinic.

Cellular uptake/LRP mediated clearance of FVIII: FVIII variants according to the invention preferably have a decreased cellular uptake. A decreased cellular uptake may be associated with a prolonged in vivo circulatory half life. Cellular uptake can be measured using the assay disclosed in example 7. LRP and LRP family members have been implicated in FVIII clearance via endocytosis of FVIII by LRP expressing cells on the surface of e.g. hepatocytes. Infusion of an LRP antagonist RAP (receptor-associated protein) in mice completely inhibited the initial phase of FVIII clearance in BALB/c mice and prolonged the half life of ¹²⁵I-FVIII 3.3-fold (J Biol Chem 1999; 274: 37685-37692). In conditional LRP deficient mice was an enhanced plasma level of FVIII observed (Blood 2003; 101: 3933-3939) and in a combined LRP and LDLR (low density lipoprotein receptor)-deficient mice has a 4.8-fold enhanced mean residence time of infused FVIII been demonstrated (Blood 2005; 106: 906-912). While these publications demonstrate a role of LRP and LRP family members in clearance of FVIII in vivo, the exact positions in FVIII responsible for interaction with LRP remain unclear. An LRP binding site comprising amino acid 484-509 has previously been identified in A2 (J Biol Chem 1999; 274: 37685-37692; Biochemistry 2006; 45: 1829-1840; Blood Coagul Fibronolysis 2008; 19: 543-555). However, mAb413 binding to this region only affected LRP binding to isolated A2 and not intact FVIII most likely as the LRP site in A2 is only exposed in activated FVIII (FVIIIa) (J Thromb Heamost 2006; 4: 1487-1493). Furthermore FVIII with single or multiple alanine substitutions within amino acid 376-556 showed LRP binding comparable to FVIII without substitutions in this region, and plasma residence time in mice of the mutated FVIII molecules was not increased relative to the half-life of wild-type FVIII (abstract P-T-035, ISTH 2007). LRP binding sites has been suggested to exist in the light chain of FVIII (J Biol Chem 1999; 274: 23734-23739, WO 00/28021) and a site involving Glu1811-Lys1818 in the A3 domain was identified based on an inhibitory effect of an antibody as well as synthetic peptides covering this region and the lack of LRP binding of FVIII-FV chimeras where this region in FVIII was replaced with the corresponding sequence in FV (J Biol Chem 2003; 278: 9370-9377). This region is in close vicinity or overlapping with a factor IXa interaction site, and consequently mutations within this site may affect the cofactor activity of FVIII. In addition, a site in the C2 domain has been suggested based on the ability of the anti C2 mAb ESH4 to inhibit LRP binding of FVIII (J Biol Chem 1999; 274: 23734-23739). Several epitiopes for ESH4 within the C2 domain of FVIII have been suggested. An epitope for ESH4 within amino acid 2248-2285 is noted in J Biol Chem 1997; 272: 18007-18014) while 2173-2222 was later identified as essential for the binding of ESH4 to FVIII (Thromb Haemost 2003; 89: 795-802). In the data sheet of the antibody (American Diagnostica) and in J Mol Recognit 2009; 22: 301-306 an epitope within 2303-2322 of FVIII is noted. Therefore the data available for the localization of the epitope of ESH4 on FVIII are conflicting and not sufficiently detailed to allow prediction of the individual amino acid(s) essential for LRP binding. In addition, even at high concentration of C2 (500 nM) only a modest association with LRP was observed (J Biol Chem 1999; 274: 23734-23739) suggesting that the affinity of the LRP site in C2 is low and rendering it unclear if this site plays any dominant role in intact FVIII. A major phospholipid binding site is present in the C2 domain of FVIIIa. This was originally identified due to the ability of synthetic peptides spanning the C2 domain to inhibit FVIII binding to immobilized phosphatidyl serine (Blood 1990; 75: 1999-2004). By this way residues 2303-2332 were suggested to mediate phospholipid binding. In addition, the monoclonal antibody ESH-8 reduced the affinity of FVIIIa to phospholipid vesicles containing phosphatidyl-L-serine (Blood 1995; 86: 1811-1819; J Biol Chem 1998; 273: 27918-27926). The epitope of ESH8 includes amino acid 2248-2285 (Blood 1995; 86: 1811-1819). However, in a later publication, ESH8 and a peptide consisting of amino acid 2248-2285 failed to inhibit FVIIIa binding to activated platelets, while the ESH4 antibody and a peptide covering amino acid 2303-2332 inhibited FVIIIa binding to the activated platelets (Biochemistry 2005; 44: 13858-13865).

Thus, while it has long been speculated in the art that FVIII variants having a decreased LRP binding could potentially have an increased in vivo circulatory half life, no specific LRP binding sites in the C1 and C2 domains of FVIII resulting in prolonged circulatory half life have been identified so far.

LRP binding motifs are thought to involve paired lysine residues with a distance of about 20 Å each docking into an “acidic necklace” (Mol Cell 2006; 22: 277-286). The distance between LRP binding sites may however be deviating somewhat from the 20 Å (e.g. at least 15 Å) due to the flexibility in the amino acid side chains, flexibility in the FVIII structure, etc. Like-wise, the distance between two LRP binding sites may also be about 40 Å, 60 Å or even 80 Å.

Arginine may substitute lysine as the side chain of arginine is more bulky that of lysine and may not fit into the acidic necklace, thus decrease LRP binding. FVIII comprises a large number of potential LRP binding motifs, i.e. the inventors of the present invention have defined 140 surface exposed lysine or arginine (FIG. 1 and table 1). It thus follows that a person skilled in the art would not be able to identify FVIII variants with one, two, three, or only a limited number of substitutions with substantially reduced LRP binding. Additionally, the person skilled in the art could expect that a large number of lysine and/or arginine residues should be mutated in order to significantly reduce LRP binding and LRP-mediated clearance of FVIII. A large number of lysine and/or arginine substitutions, in order to reduce LRP binding, would most likely result in a molecule that either have little or no biological activity and/or a molecule that cannot be expressed in sufficient amounts. This is exemplified by several of the FVIII mutants shown in table 1. The inventors of the present invention have, however, surprisingly shown that substitution of a surface accessible lysine or arginine residue in either the C1 or the C2 foot, or with a substitution in both the C1 and the C2 foot of FVIII, results in a FVIII variant having significant reduced LRP binding while retaining full activity.

Uptake of FVIII by antigen presenting cells such as dendritic cells and macrophages bypasses the LRP receptor family (Haematologica 2008; 93: 83-98). Instead macrophage mannose receptor binding to high mannose glycans has been implicated in uptake of FVIII by these cells (Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2007; 104: 8965-8970). The inventors of the present invention have, however, shown that FVIII mutations resulting in decreased binding to LRP also shows decreased uptake in dendritic cells and macrophages. In a murine model of antibody formation to human FVIII, these substitutions in FVIII surprisingly resulted in lower level of total anti FVIII antibodies as well as neutralising antibodies (inhibitors) as measured in the Bethesda assay generally used to monitor development of inhibitors in haemophilia patients. It may therefore be speculated if the FVIII variants with decreased cellular uptake could have a therapeutic benefit in regard to lower risk for developing inhibitors.

FVIII mutations suitable for modulating LRP binding/cellular uptake: It is known in the art that the KM33 antibody has the capacity of inhibiting FVIII binding to LRP (J Biol Chem 2003; 278: 9370-9377 and WO 03/093313). Co-administration of KM33 scFv with FVIII to vWF deficient mice resulted in higher level of FVIII activity 15 and 30 min after administration as compared to control mice receiving only FVIII (WO 03/093313). As KM33 binds the K2092-S2094 region (Blood 2009; 114: 3938-3946 and abstract P-M-040, presented at ISTH, 2007), it has been suggested that K2092 might constitute part of one potential LRP binding site. which may further comprise K2065 (abstract O-M-041 presented at ISTH, 2007). These single substitutions both affected LRP binding but not the interaction with factor IXa (abstract O-M-041, ISTH, 2007). It has, however, not been suggested that substitution of only two or more (up to about ten) of these amino acid residues with alanine would significantly decrease LRP binding and/or cellular uptake.

FVIII variants comprising a K2092A substitution and/or a F2093A substitution are disclosed in Blood 2009; 114: 3938-3946. These mutations were found to have a 3-10 fold reduction in affinity to membranes comprising 4% phosphatidyl-L-serine and a more than 95% reduction of factor Xase activity at low phosphatidyl-L-serine level e.g. 4%.

Considering the large redundancy of potential LRP binding sites and the fact that only a few amino acid substitutions of surface exposed lysine (or arginine) residues can be performed without loosing biological activity and/or significantly reducing the FVIII yield it has thus far not been possible to provide biologically active FVIII variants having one or two or a few amino acid substitutions resulting in a significantly decreased LRP binding. The inventors of the present invention did, however, arrive at selecting amino acid substitutions in the C1 and/or the C2 foot of FVIII that did both retain biological activity as well as showing a significant reduction in LRP binding (table 1 and 2). It was not expected that combination of substitutions within LRP sites in the C1 foot with substitutions within sites in the C2 foot would result in FVIII molecules with a larger effect on LRP binding and the these FVIII molecules at the same time maintain FVIII:C, as the sites are in close vicinity to phospholipid binding sites.

Examples of FVIII variants having modulated LRP binding/cellular uptake according to the present invention include:

K2092A (SEQ ID NO: 3) atrryylgavelswdymqsdlgelpvdarfpprvpksfpfntsvvykktlfveftdhlf- niakprppwmgllgptiqaevydtvvitlknmashpvslhavgvsyw- kasegaeyddqtsqrekeddkvfpggshtyvwqvlkengpmasdplcltysylsh- vdlvkdlnsgligallvcregslakektqtlhkfillfavfdegkswhsetknslmqdrdaa- sarawpkmhtvngyvnrslpgligchrksvywhvigmgttpevhsifleghtflvrnhr- qasleispitfltaqtllmdlgqfllfchisshqhdgmeayvkvdscpeepqlrmkn- neeaedydddltdsemdvvrfdddnspsfiqirsvakkhpktwvhyiaaeeed- wdyaplvlapddrsyksqylnngpqrigrkykkvrfmaytdetfktreaighesgilgplly- gevgdtlliifknqasrpyniyphgitdvrplysrrlpkgvkhlkdfpilpgeifkykwtvtvedgptksdprcltryyssfvnmerdlasglig- pkgvkhlkdfpilpgeifkykwtvtvedgptksdprcltryyssfvnmerdlasglig- pllicykesvdqrgnqimsdkrnvilfsvfdenrswylteniqrflpnpagvqledpefqas- nimhsingyvfdslqlsvclhevaywyilsigaqtdflsvffsgytfkhkmvyedtltlf- pfsgetvfmsmenpglwilgchnsdfrnrgmtallkvsscdkntgdyyedsyedisayllskn- naieprsfsqnppvlkrhqreitrttlqsdqeeidyddtisvemkkedfdiydedenqsprs- fqkktrhyfiaaverlwdygmsssphvlrnraqsgsvpqfkkvvfqeftdgsftqplyr- gelnehlgllgpyiraevednimvtfrnqasrpysfysslisy- eedqrqgaeprknfvkpnetktyfwkvqhhmaptkdefdckawayfsdvdlekdvhsglig- pllychtntlnpahgrqvtvqefalfftifdetkswyftenmern- crapcniqmedptfkenyrfhaingyimdtlpglvmaqdqrirwyllsmgsne- nihsihfsghvftvrkkeeykmalynlypgvfetvem- lpskagiwrvecligehlhagmstlflvysnkcqtplgmasghirdfqitasgqygqwap- klarlhysgsinawstkepfswikvdllapmiihgiktqgarqafsslyisqfiimysld- gkkwqtyrgnstgtlmvffgnvdssgikhnifnppiiaryirlhpthysirstlr- melmgcdlnscsmplgmeskaisdaqitassyftnmfatwspskarlhlqgrsnawrpqvnnp- kewlqvdfqktmkvtgvttqgvkslltsmyvkeflisss- qdghqwtlffqngkvkvfqgnqdsftpvvnsldpplltrylrihpqswvhqialrmevlgceaqdly F2093A (SEQ ID NO: 4) atrryylgavelswdymqsdlgelpvdarfpprvpksfpfntsvvykktlfveftdhlf- niakprppwmgllgptiqaevydtvvitlknmashpvslhavgvsyw- kasegaeyddqtsqrekeddkvfpggshtyvwqvlkengpmasdplcltysylsh- vdlvkdlnsgligallvcregslakektqtlhkfillfavfdegkswhsetknslmqdrdaa- sarawpkmhtvngyvnrslpgligchrksvywhvigmgttpevhsifleghtflvrnhr- qasleispitfltaqtllmdlgqfllfchisshqhdgmeayvkvdscpeepqlrmkn- neeaedydddltdsemdvvrfdddnspsfiqirsvakkhpktwvhyiaaeeed- wdyaplvlapddrsyksqylnngpqrigrkykkvrfmaytdetfktreaighesgilgplly- gevgdtlliifknqasrpyniyphgitdvrplysrrlpkgvkhlkdfpilpgeifkykwtvtvedgptksdprcltryyssfvnmerdlasglig- pkgvkhlkdfpilpgeifkykwtvtvedgptksdprcltryyssfvnmerdlasglig- pllicykesvdqrgnqimsdkrnvilfsvfdenrswylteniqrflpnpagvqledpefqas- nimhsingyvfdslqlsvclhevaywyilsigaqtdflsvffsgytfkhkmvyedtltlf- pfsgetvfmsmenpglwilgchnsdfrnrgmtallkvsscdkntgdyyedsyedisayllskn- naieprsfsqnppvlkrhqreitrttlqsdqeeidyddtisvemkkedfdiydedenqsprs- fqkktrhyfiaaverlwdygmsssphvlrnraqsgsvpqfkkvvfqeftdgsftqplyr- gelnehlgllgpyiraevednimvtfrnqasrpysfysslisy- eedqrqgaeprknfvkpnetktyfwkvqhhmaptkdefdckawayfsdvdlekdvhsglig- pllvchtntlnpahgrqvtvqefalfftifdetkswyftenmern- crapcniqmedptfkenyrfhaingyimdtlpglvmaqdqrirwyllsmgsne- nihsihfsghvftvrkkeeykmalynlypgvfetvem- lpskagiwrvecligehlhagmstlflvysnkcqtplgmasghirdfqitasgqygqwap- klarlhysgsinawstkepfswikvdllapmiihgiktqgarqkasslyisqfiimysld- gkkwqtyrgnstgtlmvffgnvdssgikhnifnppiiaryirlhpthysirstlr- melmgcdlnscsmplgmeskaisdaqitassyftnmfatwspskarlhlqgrsnawrpqvnnp- kewlqvdfqktmkvtgvttqgvkslltsmyvkeflisss- qdghqwtlffqngkvkvfqgnqdsftpvvnsldpplltrylrihpqswvhqialrmevlgceaqdly K2092A-F2093A (SEQ ID NO: 5) atrryylgavelswdymqsdlgelpvdarfpprvpksfpfntsvvykktlfveftdhlf- niakprppwmgllgptiqaevydtvvitlknmashpvslhavgvsyw- kasegaeyddqtsqrekeddkvfpggshtyvwqvlkengpmasdplcltysylsh- vdlvkdlnsgligallvcregslakektqtlhkfillfavfdegkswhsetknslmqdrdaa- sarawpkmhtvngyvnrslpgligchrksvywhvigmgttpevhsifleghtflvrnhr- qasleispitfltaqtllmdlgqfllfchisshqhdgmeayvkvdscpeepqlrmkn- neeaedydddltdsemdvvrfdddnspsfiqirsvakkhpktwvhyiaaeeed- wdyaplvlapddrsyksqylnngpqrigrkykkvrfmaytdetfktreaiqhesgilgplly- gevgdtlliifknqasrpyniyphgitdvrplysrrlpkgvkhlkdfpilpgeifkykwtvtvedgptksdprcltryyssfvnmerdlasglig- pkgvkhlkdfpilpgeifkykwtvtvedgptksdprcltryyssfvnmerdlasglig- pllicykesvdqrgnqimsdkrnvilfsvfdenrswylteniqrflpnpagvqledpefqas- nimhsingyvfdslqlsvclhevaywyilsigaqtdflsvffsgytfkhkmvyedtltlf- pfsgetvfmsmenpglwilgchnsdfrnrgmtallkvsscdkntgdyyedsyedisayllskn- naieprsfsqnppvlkrhqreitrttlqsdqeeidyddtisvemkkedfdiydedenqsprs- fqkktrhyfiaaverlwdygmsssphvlrnraqsgsvpqfkkvvfqeftdgsftqplyr- gelnehlgllgpyiraevednimvtfrnqasrpysfysslisy- eedqrqgaeprknfvkpnetktyfwkvqhhmaptkdefdckawayfsdvdlekdvhsglig- pllvchtntlnpahgrqvtvqefalfftifdetkswyftenmern- crapcniqmedptfkenyrfhaingyimdtlpglvmaqdqrirwyllsmgsne- nihsihfsghvftvrkkeeykmalynlypgvfetvem- lpskagiwrvecligehlhagmstlflvysnkcqtplgmasghirdfqitasgqygqwap- klarlhysgsinawstkepfswikvdllapmiihgiktqgarqaasslyisqfiimysld- gkkwqtyrgnstgtlmvffgnvdssgikhnifnppiiaryirlhpthysirstlr- melmgcdlnscsmplgmeskaisdaqitassyftnmfatwspskarlhlqgrsnawrpqvnnp- kewlqvdfqktmkvtgvttqgvkslltsmyvkeflisss- qdghqwtlffqngkvkvfqgnqdsftpvvnsldpplltrylrihpqswvhqialrmevlgceaqdly R2215A (SEQ ID NO: 6) atrryylgavelswdymqsdlgelpvdarfpprvpksfpfntsvvykktlfveftdhlf- niakprppwmgllgptiqaevydtvvitlknmashpvslhavgvsyw- kasegaeyddqtsqrekeddkvfpggshtyvwqvlkengpmasdplcltysylsh- vdlvkdlnsgligallvcregslakektqtlhkfillfavfdegkswhsetknslmqdrdaa- sarawpkmhtvngyvnrslpgligchrksvywhvigmgttpevhsifleghtflvrnhr- qasleispitfltaqtllmdlgqfllfchisshqhdgmeayvkvdscpeepqlrmkn- neeaedydddltdsemdvvrfdddnspsfiqirsvakkhpktwvhyiaaeeed- wdyaplvlapddrsyksqylnngpqrigrkykkvrfmaytdetfktreaighesgilgplly- gevgdtlliifknqasrpyniyphgitdvrplysrrlpkgvkhlkdfpilpgeifkykwtvtvedgptksdprcltryyssfvnmerdlasglig- pkgvkhlkdfpilpgeifkykwtvtvedgptksdprcltryyssfvnmerdlasglig- pllicykesvdqrgnqimsdkrnvilfsvfdenrswylteniqrflpnpagvqledpefqas- nimhsingyvfdslqlsvclhevaywyilsigaqtdflsvffsgytfkhkmvyedtltlf- pfsgetvfmsmenpglwilgchnsdfrnrgmtallkvsscdkntgdyyedsyedisayllskn- naieprsfsqnsrhpseqkliseedlsqnppvlkrhqreitrttlqsdqeeidyddtis- vemkkedfdiydedenqsprsfqkktrhyfiaaverlwdygmsssphvlrnraqsgsvpqfkkvvfqeftdgsftqplyrgelneh- raqsgsvpqfkkvvfqeftdgsftqplyrgelneh- lgllgpyiraevednimvtfrnqasrpysfysslisyeedqrqgaeprknfvkpnetk- tyfwkvqhhmaptkdefdckawayfsdvdlekdvhsgligpllvchtntlnpahgrqvtvqe- falfftifdetkswyftenmerncrapcniqmedptfkenyrfhaingyim- dtlpglvmaqdqrirwyllsmgsnenihsihfsghvftvrkkeeykmalynlypgvfetvem- lpskagiwrvecligehlhagmstlflvysnkcqtplgmasghirdfqitasgqygqwap- klarlhysgsinawstkepfswikvdllapmiihgiktqgarqkfsslyisqfiimysld- gkkwqtyrgnstgtlmvffgnvdssgikhnifnppiiaryirlhpthysirstlr- melmgcdlnscsmplgmeskaisdaqitassyftnmfatwspskarlhlqgasnawrpqvnnp- kewlqvdfqktmkvtgvttqgvkslltsmyvkeflisss- qdghqwtlffqngkvkvfqgnqdsftpvvnsldpplltrylrihpqswvhqialrmevlgceaqdly K2065A-R2215A (SEQ ID NO: 7) atrryylgavelswdymqsdlgelpvdarfpprvpksfpfntsvvykktlfveftdhlf- niakprppwmgllgptiqaevydtvvitlknmashpvslhavgvsyw- kasegaeyddqtsqrekeddkvfpggshtyvwqvlkengpmasdplcltysylsh- vdlvkdlnsgligallvcregslakektqtlhkfillfavfdegkswhsetknslmqdrdaa- sarawpkmhtvngyvnrslpgligchrksvywhvigmgttpevhsifleghtflvrnhr- qasleispitfltaqtllmdlgqfllfchisshqhdgmeayvkvdscpeepqlrmkn- neeaedydddltdsemdvvrfdddnspsfiqirsvakkhpktwvhyiaaeeed- wdyaplvlapddrsyksqylnngpqrigrkykkvrfmaytdetfktreaiqhesgilgplly- gevgdtlliifknqasrpyniyphgitdvrplysrrlpkgvkhlkdfpilpgeifkykwtvtvedgptksdprcltryyssfvnmerdlasglig- pkgvkhlkdfpilpgeifkykwtvtvedgptksdprcltryyssfvnmerdlasglig- pllicykesvdqrgnqimsdkrnvilfsvfdenrswylteniqrflpnpagvqledpefqas- nimhsingyvfdslqlsvclhevaywyilsigaqtdflsvffsgytfkhkmvyedtltlf- pfsgetvfmsmenpglwilgchnsdfrnrgmtallkvsscdkntgdyyedsyedisayllskn- naieprsfsqnsrhpseqkliseedlsqnppvlkrhqreitrttlqsdqeeidyddtis- vemkkedfdiydedenqsprsfqkktrhyfiaaverlwdygmsssphvlrnraqsgsvpqfkkvvfqeftdgsftqplyrgelneh- raqsgsvpqfkkvvfqeftdgsftqplyrgelneh- lgllgpyiraevednimvtfrnqasrpysfysslisyeedqrqgaeprknfvkpnetk- tyfwkvqhhmaptkdefdckawayfsdvdlekdvhsgligpllvchtntlnpahgrqvtvqe- falfftifdetkswyftenmerncrapcniqmedptfkenyrfhaingyim- dtlpglvmaqdqrirwyllsmgsnenihsihfsghvftvrkkeeykmalynlypgvfetvem- lpskagiwrvecligehlhagmstlflvysnkcqtplgmasghirdfqitasgqygqwap- klarlhysgsinawstaepfswikvdllapmiihgiktqgarqkfsslyisqfiimysld- gkkwqtyrgnstgtlmvffgnvdssgikhnifnppiiaryirlhpthysirstlr- melmgcdlnscsmplgmeskaisdaqitassyftnmfatwspskarlhlqgasnawrpqvnnp- kewlqvdfqktmkvtgvttqgvkslltsmyvkeflisss- qdghqwtlffqngkvkvfqgnqdsftpvvnsldpplltrylrihpqswvhqialrmevlgceaqdly R2090A-R2215A (SEQ ID NO: 8) atrryylgavelswdymqsdlgelpvdarfpprvpksfpfntsvvykktlfveftdhlf- niakprppwmgllgptiqaevydtvvitlknmashpvslhavgvsyw- kasegaeyddqtsqrekeddkvfpggshtyvwqvlkengpmasdplcltysylsh- vdlvkdlnsgligallvcregslakektqtlhkfillfavfdegkswhsetknslmqdrdaa- sarawpkmhtvngyvnrslpgligchrksvywhvigmgttpevhsifleghtflvrnhr- qasleispitfltaqtllmdlgqfllfchisshqhdgmeayvkvdscpeepqlrmkn- neeaedydddltdsemdvvrfdddnspsfiqirsvakkhpktwvhyiaaeeed- wdyaplvlapddrsyksqylnngpqrigrkykkvrfmaytdetfktreaighesgilgplly- gevgdtlliifknqasrpyniyphgitdvrplysrrlpkgvkhlkdfpilpgeifkykwtvtvedgptksdprcltryyssfvnmerdlasglig- pkgvkhlkdfpilpgeifkykwtvtvedgptksdprcltryyssfvnmerdlasglig- pllicykesvdqrgnqimsdkrnvilfsvfdenrswylteniqrflpnpagvqledpefqas- nimhsingyvfdslqlsvclhevaywyilsigaqtdflsvffsgytfkhkmvyedtltlf- pfsgetvfmsmenpglwilgchnsdfrnrgmtallkvsscdkntgdyyedsyedisayllskn- naieprsfsqnsrhpseqkliseedlsqnppvlkrhqreitrttlqsdqeeidyddtis- vemkkedfdiydedenqsprsfqkktrhyfiaaverlwdygmsssphvlrnraqsgsvpqfkkvvfqeftdgsftqplyrgelneh- raqsgsvpqfkkvvfqeftdgsftqplyrgelneh- lgllgpyiraevednimvtfrnqasrpysfysslisyeedqrqgaeprknfvkpnetk- tyfwkvqhhmaptkdefdckawayfsdvdlekdvhsgligpllvchtntlnpahgrqvtvqe- falfftifdetkswyftenmerncrapcniqmedptfkenyrfhaingyim- dtlpglvmaqdqrirwyllsmgsnenihsihfsghvftvrkkeeykmalynlypgvfetvem- lpskagiwrvecligehlhagmstlflvysnkcqtplgmasghirdfqitasgqygqwap- klarlhysgsinawstkepfswikvdllapmiihgiktqgaaqkfsslyisqfiimysld- gkkwqtyrgnstgtlmvffgnvdssgikhnifnppiiaryirlhpthysirstlr- melmgcdlnscsmplgmeskaisdaqitassyftnmfatwspskarlhlqgasnawrpqvnnp- kewlqvdfqktmkvtgvttqgvkslltsmyvkeflisss- qdghqwtlffqngkvkvfqgnqdsftpvvnsldpplltrylrihpqswvhqialrmevlgceaqdly K2092A-R2215A (SEQ ID NO: 9) atrryylgavelswdymqsdlgelpvdarfpprvpksfpfntsvvykktlfveftdhlf- niakprppwmgllgptiqaevydtvvitlknmashpvslhavgvsyw- kasegaeyddqtsqrekeddkvfpggshtyvwqvlkengpmasdplcltysylsh- vdlvkdlnsgligallvcregslakektqtlhkfillfavfdegkswhsetknslmqdrdaa- sarawpkmhtvngyvnrslpgligchrksvywhvigmgttpevhsifleghtflvrnhr- qasleispitfltaqtllmdlgqfllfchisshqhdgmeayvkvdscpeepqlrmkn- neeaedydddltdsemdvvrfdddnspsfiqirsvakkhpktwvhyiaaeeed- wdyaplvlapddrsyksqylnngpqrigrkykkvrfmaytdetfktreaiqhesgilgplly- gevgdtlliifknqasrpyniyphgitdvrplysrrlpkgvkhlkdfpilpgeifkykwtvtvedgptksdprcltryyssfvnmerdlasglig- pkgvkhlkdfpilpgeifkykwtvtvedgptksdprcltryyssfvnmerdlasglig- pllicykesvdqrgnqimsdkrnvilfsvfdenrswylteniqrflpnpagvqledpefqas- nimhsingyvfdslqlsvclhevaywyilsigaqtdflsvffsgytfkhkmvyedtltlf- pfsgetvfmsmenpglwilgchnsdfrnrgmtallkvsscdkntgdyyedsyedisayllskn- naieprsfsqnsrhpseqkliseedlsqnppvlkrhqreitrttlqsdqeeidyddtis- vemkkedfdiydedenqsprsfqkktrhyfiaaverlwdygmsssphvlrnraqsgsvpqfkkvvfqeftdgsftqplyrgelneh- raqsgsvpqfkkvvfqeftdgsftqplyrgelneh- lgllgpyiraevednimvtfrnqasrpysfysslisyeedqrqgaeprknfvkpnetk- tyfwkvqhhmaptkdefdckawayfsdvdlekdvhsgligpllvchtntlnpahgrqvtvqe- falfftifdetkswyftenmerncrapcniqmedptfkenyrfhaingyim- dtlpglvmaqdqrirwyllsmgsnenihsihfsghvftvrkkeeykmalynlypgvfetvem- lpskagiwrvecligehlhagmstlflvysnkcqtplgmasghirdfqitasgqygqwap- klarlhysgsinawstkepfswikvdllapmiihgiktqgarqafsslyisqfiimysld- gkkwqtyrgnstgtlmvffgnvdssgikhnifnppiiaryirlhpthysirstlr- melmgcdlnscsmplgmeskaisdaqitassyftnmfatwspskarlhlqgasnawrpqvnnp- kewlqvdfqktmkvtgvttqgvkslltsmyvkeflisss- qdghqwtlffqngkvkvfqgnqdsftpvvnsldpplltrylrihpqswvhqialrmevlgceaqdly

Side chain/side group/moiety: FVIII variants according to the present invention may be covalently conjugated with a (half life extending) side group/moiety either via post-translational modification or in the form of a fusion protein. One or more of the following side group modifications of FVIII may thus be carried out: alkylation, acylation, ester formation, di-sulfide or amide formation or the like. This includes PEGylated FVIII, cysteine-PEGylated FVIII and variants thereof. The FVIII variants according to the invention may also be conjugated to biocompatible fatty acids and derivatives thereof, hydrophilic polymers (Hydroxy Ethyl Starch, Poly Ethylene Glycol, hyaluronic acid, heparosan polymers, Phosphorylcholine-based polymers, fleximers, dextran, poly-sialic acids), polypeptides (antibodies, antigen binding fragments of antibodies, Fc domains, transferrin, albumin, Elastin like peptides (MacEwan S R, Chilkoti A. Biopolymers. 2010; 94:60), XTEN polymers (Schellenberger V et al. Nat Biotechnol. 2009; 27:1186), PASylation or HAPylation (Schlapschy M et al. Protein Eng Des Sel. 2007; 20:273), Albumin binding peptides (Dennis M S et al. J Biol Chem. 2002, 277:35035)), etc.

FVIII according to the present invention may be acylated by one or more half life extending hydrophobic side groups/moieties—optionally via a linker. Compounds having a —(CH₂)₁₂— moiety are possible albumin binders in the context of the present invention. Hydrophobic side groups may sometimes be referred to as “albumin binders” due to the fact that such side groups may be capable of forming non-covalent complexes with albumin, thereby promoting the circulation of the acylated FVIII variant in the blood stream, due to the fact that the complexes of the acylated FVIII variant and albumin is only slowly disintegrated to release the FVIII variant. FVIII can be acylated using chemical methods as well as enzymatic “glyco-acylation” methods essentially following the processes as disclosed in WO03031464. Enzymatic methods have the advantages of avoiding use of any organic solvents as well as being very site specific in general.

The term “PEGylated FVIII” means FVIII, conjugated with a PEG molecule. It is to be understood, that the PEG molecule may be attached to any part of FVIII including any amino acid residue or carbohydrate moiety. The term “cysteine-PEGylated FVIII” means FVIII having a PEG molecule conjugated to a sulfhydryl group of a cysteine introduced in FVIII. PEG is a suitable polymer molecule, since it has only few reactive groups capable of cross-linking compared to polysaccharides such as dextran. In particular, monofunctional PEG, e.g. methoxypolyethylene glycol (mPEG), is of interest since its coupling chemistry is relatively simple (only one reactive group is available for conjugating with attachment groups on the polypeptide). Consequently, the risk of cross-linking is eliminated, the resulting polypeptide conjugates are more homogeneous and the reaction of the polymer molecules with the polypeptide is easier to control.

To effect covalent attachment of the polymer molecule(s) to the polypeptide, the hydroxyl end groups of the polymer molecule are provided in activated form, i.e. with reactive functional groups. The PEGylation may be directed towards conjugation to all available attachment groups on the polypeptide (i.e. such attachment groups that are exposed at the surface of the polypeptide) or may be directed towards one or more specific attachment groups, e.g. the N-terminal amino group (U.S. Pat. No. 5,985,265), N- and/or O-linked glycans, etc. Furthermore, the conjugation may be achieved in one step or in a stepwise manner (e.g. as described in WO 99/55377). An enzymatic approach for coupling side groups/moieties to 0- and/or N-linked glycans is disclosed in WO03031464.

Fusion protein: Fusion proteins/chimeric proteins, are proteins created through the joining of two or more genes which originally coded for separate proteins. Translation of this fusion gene results in a single polypeptide with functional properties derived from each of the original proteins. The side chain of the FVIII variants according to the present invention may thus be in the form of a polypeptide fused to FVIII. FVIII according to the present invention may thus be fused to peptides that can confer a prolonged half life to the FVIII such as e.g. antibodies and “Fc fusion derivatives” or “Fc fusion proteins”.

Fc fusion protein is herein meant to encompass FVIII fused to an Fc domain that can be derived from any antibody isotype, although an IgG Fc domain will often be preferred due to the relatively long circulatory half life of IgG antibodies. The Fc domain may furthermore be modified in order to modulate certain effector functions such as e.g. complement binding and/or binding to certain Fc receptors. Fusion of FVIII with an Fc domain, having the capacity to bind to FcRn receptors, will generally result in a prolonged circulatory half life of the fusion protein compared to the half life of the wt FVIII protein. Mutations in positions 234, 235 and 237 in an IgG Fc domain will generally result in reduced binding to the FcγRI receptor and possibly also the FcγRIIa and the FcγRIII receptors. These mutations do not alter binding to the FcRn receptor, which promotes a long circulatory half life by an endocytic recycling pathway. Preferably, a modified IgG Fc domain of a fusion protein according to the invention comprises one or more of the following mutations that will result in decreased affinity to certain Fc receptors (L234A, L235E, and G237A) and in reduced C1q-mediated complement fixation (A330S and P331S), respectively.

Von Willebrand Factor (vWF): vWF is a large mono-/multimeric glycoprotein present in blood plasma and produced constitutively in endothelium (in the Weibel-Palade bodies), megakaryocytes (a-granules of platelets), and subendothelial connective tissue. Its primary function is binding to other proteins, particularly FVIII and it is important in platelet adhesion to wound sites.

FVIII is bound to vWF while inactive in circulation; FVIII degrades rapidly or is cleared when not bound to vWF. It thus follows that reduction or abolishment of vWF binding capacity in FVIII would be considered as a highly undesirable approach in obtaining FVIII variants with prolonged circulatory half life. It may however be possible to reduce or abolish vWF by site directed mutagenesis if the molecule is conjugated to a protective half life extending side group/moiety. The region in FVIII responsible for binding to vWF is the region spanning residues 1670-1684 as disclosed in EP0319315. It is envisaged that FVIII point and/or deletion mutants involving this area will modify the ability to bind to vWF. Examples of particularly preferred point mutations according to the present invention include variants comprising one or more of the following point mutations: Y1680F, Y1680R, Y1680N-E1682T, and Y1680C.

Glycoprotein: The term “glycoprotein” is intended to encompass peptides, oligopeptides and polypeptides containing one or more oligosaccharides (glycans) attached to one or more amino acid residues of the “back bone” amino acid sequence. The glycans may be N-linked or O-linked.

The term “terminal sialic acid” or, interchangeable, “terminal neuraminic acid” is thus intended to encompass sialic acid residues linked as the terminal sugar residue in a glycan, or oligosaccharide chain, i.e., the terminal sugar of each antenna is N-acetylneuraminic acid linked to galactose via an α2->3 or α2->6 linkage.

The term “galactose or derivative thereof” means a galactose residue, such as natural D-galactose or a derivative thereof, such as an N-acetylgalactosamine residue.

The term “terminal galactose or derivative thereof” means the galactose or derivative thereof linked as the terminal sugar residue in a glycan, or oligosaccharide chain, e.g., the terminal sugar of each antenna is galactose or N-acetylgalactosamine.

The term “asialo glycoprotein” is intended to include glycoproteins wherein one or more terminal sialic acid residues have been removed, e.g., by treatment with a sialidase or by chemical treatment, exposing at least one galactose or N-acetylgalactosamine residue from the underlying “layer” of galactose or N-acetylgalactosamine (“exposed galactose residue”). In general, N-linked glycans, which are not part of wild type FVIII, can be introduced into the FVIII molecules of the invention, by introducing amino acid mutations so as to obtain N-X-S/T motifs. The FVIII molecules of the present invention contain 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10, or more, N-linked glycans. The structure of N-linked glycans are of the high-mannose or complex form. High mannose glycans contain terminal mannose residues at the non-reducing end of the glycan. Complex N-glycans contain terminal sialic acid, galactose or N-acetylglucosamine at the non-reducing end. N-linked glycosylation sites can thus be inserted into the FVIII variants according to the present invention using recombinant techniques.

Sialyltransferase: Sialyltransferases are enzymes that transfer a sialic acid to nascent oligosaccharide. Each sialyltransferase is specific for a particular sugar nucleotide donor substrate. Sialyltransferases add sialic acid to the terminal galactose in glycolipids (gangliosides), or N- or O-linked glycans of glycoproteins. Sialyltransferase is suitable for use in enzymatic conjugation of side groups/moieties to glycans present on the FVIII molecule.

Pharmaceutical composition: A pharmaceutical composition is herein preferably meant to encompass compositions comprising FVIII molecules according to the present invention suitable for parenteral administration, such as e.g. ready-to-use sterile aqueous compositions or dry sterile compositions that can be reconstituted in e.g. water or an aqueous buffer. The compositions according to the invention may comprise various pharmaceutically acceptable excipients, stabilizers, etc.

Additional ingredients in such compositions may include wetting agents, emulsifiers, antioxidants, bulking agents, tonicity modifiers, chelating agents, metal ions, oleaginous vehicles, proteins (e.g., human serum albumin, gelatine or proteins) and a zwitterion (e.g., an amino acid such as betaine, taurine, arginine, glycine, lysine and histidine). Such additional ingredients, of course, should not adversely affect the overall stability of the pharmaceutical formulation of the present invention. Parenteral administration may be performed by subcutaneous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal or intravenous injection by means of a syringe, optionally a pen-like syringe. Alternatively, parenteral administration can be performed by means of an infusion pump.

Suitable host cells for producing recombinant FVIII protein according to the invention are preferably of mammalian origin in order to ensure that the molecule is properly processed during folding and post-translational modification, e.g. glycosylation, sulfatation, etc. In practicing the present invention, the cells are mammalian cells, more preferably an established mammalian cell line, including, without limitation, CHO, COS-1, baby hamster kidney (BHK), and HEK293 cell lines. A preferred BHK cell line is the tk-ts13 BHK cell line, hereinafter referred to as BHK 570 cells. A preferred CHO cell line is the CHO K1 cell line as well as cell lines CHO-DXB11 and CHO-DG44. Other suitable cell lines include, without limitation, Rat Hep I, Rat Hep II, TCMK, NCTC 1469; DUKX cells (CHO cell line), and DG44 (CHO cell line). Also useful are 3T3 cells, Namalwa cells, myelomas and fusions of myelomas with other cells. Currently preferred cells are HEK293, COS, Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells, Baby Hamster Kidney (BHK) and myeloma cells, in particular Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells.

The term “treatment”, as used herein, refers to the medical therapy of any human or other animal subject in need thereof. Said subject is expected to have undergone physical ex-amination by a medical practitioner, who has given a tentative or definitive diagnosis which would indicate that the use of said specific treatment is beneficial to the health of said human or other animal subject. The timing and purpose of said treatment may vary from one individual to another, according to the status quo of the subject's health. Thus, said treatment may be prophylactic, palliative, symptomatic and/or curative.

In a first aspect, the present invention thus relates to a recombinant FVIII variant having FVIII activity, wherein said variant comprises 2-10, alternatively 2-8, alternatively 2-7, alternatively 2-6, alternatively 2-5, alternatively 2-4, such as two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, or ten substitutions of surface accessible positively charged amino acids, e.g. lysine and/or arginine residues, in the FVIII C1 foot and/or the C2 foot, wherein said surface accessible positively charged residue/lysine or arginine residues are substituted with, but not limited to, alanine or glutamine, and wherein the substitutions results in decreased LRP binding and preferably also in reduced cellular uptake. In one embodiment, the surface accessible charged amino acid is selected from the group consisting of: lysine, arginine, and histidine. Preferably, said variant furthermore has decreased LRP binding. Preferably, said variant furthermore has decreased immunogenicity and/or reduced clearance. Most preferably, said variant has reduced cellular uptake, decreased LRP binding and decreased immunogenicity and reduced clearance. According to one specific embodiment, one or more arginine residues may substitute one or more lysine residues. The “bulky” side chain of arginine may not be able to dock properly into the acidic necklage of LRP thus resulting in decreased LRP binding. In one embodiment, said FVIII variant furthermore comprises e.g. the R2159N mutation and/or other mutations that result in formation of an additional glycosylation site, wherein the glycan in said glycosylation site confers a reduced ability to bind to the KM33 antibody.

In a second aspect, the present invention relates to a recombinant FVIII variant, wherein said variant comprises a K2092A substitution and a F2093A substitution, wherein said variant is conjugated with a half life extending moiety. The half life extending moiety can be e.g. one or more PEG moieties, one or more PSA moieties, one or more HES moieties, one or more fatty acids/fatty acid derivatives, an Fc domain, or a combination of any of these (e.g. one or more PEG moieties combined with one or more PSA moieties). In one embodiment, said FVIII variant furthermore comprises the R2159N mutation and/or other mutations that result in formation of an additional glycosylation site, wherein the glycan in said glycosylation site confers a reduced ability to bind to the KM33 antibody.

In a third aspect, the present invention relates to a recombinant FVIII variant having FVIII activity, wherein said variant comprises a mutation that results in an additional glycosylation site, wherein the glycan in said glycosylation site confers a reduced ability to bind to the KM33 antibody. Preferably, the reduced ability to bind the KM33 antibody results in decreased cellular uptake and/or decreased LRP binding. One example of this type of FVIII variants comprising an additional glycosylation site that confers reduced ability of the variant to bind to the KM33 antibody is a FVIII variant comprising the R2159N mutation.

In one embodiment, the FVIII variant according to the invention comprises 2-10, alternatively 2-9, alternatively 2-8, alternatively 2-7, alternatively 2-6, alternatively 2-5, alternatively 2-4, such as e.g. two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine or ten substitutions of surface accessible positively charged amino acid residues in the FVIII C1 foot and/or the C2 foot, wherein said surface accessible charged amino acid residues are substituted with alanine or glutamine and wherein the substitutions result in decreased cellular uptake of said FVIII variant.

In one embodiment, the FVIII variant according to the invention furthermore comprises the F2093A mutation.

According to one embodiment, the FVIII variant according to the invention comprises at least two substitutions of surface accessible positively charged amino acid residues in the C1 foot. In another embodiment, the FVIII variant according to the invention comprises at least two substitutions of surface accessible positively charged amino acid residues in the C2 foot. In another embodiment, the FVIII variant according to the invention comprises at least one substitution of a surface accessible positively charged amino residue in the C1 foot and at least one substitution of a surface accessible charged amino acid residue in the C2 foot.

According to another embodiment, the FVIII variant according to the invention comprises a pair of substitutions of surface accessible positively charged amino acid residues, wherein the distance between the pair of substitutions is at least 15 Å.

In another embodiment, the FVIII variant according to the invention comprises a substitution of K2092. Preferably, the 2092 lysine residue is substituted with an alanine residue. Alternatively, the 2092 lysine residue is substituted with a glutamine residue.

In another embodiment the FVIII variant according to the invention comprises said K2092 substitution and a substitution of R2215. Preferably, the 2092 lysine residue is substituted with an alanine residue. Alternatively, the 2092 lysine residue is substituted with a glutamine residue. Preferably, the 2215 arginine residue is substituted with an alanine residue. Alternatively, the 2215 arginine residue is substituted with a glutamine residue.

In another embodiment, the FVIII variant according to the invention, said K2092 substitution is combined with a substitution of K2249. Preferably, the 2092 lysine residue is substituted with an alanine residue. Alternatively, the 2092 lysine residue is substituted with a glutamine residue. Preferably, the 2249 lysine residue is substituted with an alanine residue. Alternatively, the 2249 lysine residue is substituted with a glutamine residue.

In another embodiment, the FVIII variant according to the invention comprises a substitution of R2090. Preferably, the 2090 arginine residue is substituted with an alanine residue. Alternatively, the 2090 arginine residue is substituted with a glutamine residue.

In another embodiment, the FVIII variant according to the invention comprises a substitution of K2065. Preferably, the 2065 lysine residue is substituted with an alanine residue. Alternatively, the 2065 lysine residue is substituted with a glutamine residue.

In another embodiment, the FVIII variant according to the invention comprises said K2065 substitution and a substitution of R2215. Preferably, the 2065 lysine residue is substituted with an alanine residue. Alternatively, the 2065 lysine residue is substituted with a glutamine residue. Preferably, the 2215 arginine residue is substituted with an alanine residue. Alternatively, the 2215 arginine residue is substituted with a glutamine residue.

In another embodiment, the FVIII variant according to the invention comprises said K2065 substitution and a substitution of K2249. Preferably, the 2065 lysine residue is substituted with an alanine residue. Alternatively, the 2065 lysine residue is substituted with a glutamine residue. Preferably, the 2249 lysine residue is substituted with an alanine residue. Alternatively, the 2249 lysine residue is substituted with a glutamine residue.

According to a first embodiment, the FVIII variant according to the invention comprises a lysine or arginine substitution in the C2 foot, wherein said substitution is selected from one or more amino acids from the group consisting of: R2215, R2220, K2249, and K2320.

According to a second embodiment, the FVIII variant according to the invention comprises a lysine or arginine substitution in the C1 foot, wherein said substitution is selected from one or more amino acids from the group consisting of: K2065, R2090 and K2092.

In a second aspect, the present invention relates to a recombinant FVIII variant having FVIII activity, wherein said variant comprises a F2093A substitution in the C1 foot, and wherein the substitution results in decreased cell binding and/or cellular uptake and/or reduced LRP binding.

In one embodiment, the FVIII variant according to the invention is a FVIII variant conjugated to a half life extending side group/moiety. In another embodiment, the side groups can be conjugated to FVIII via a glycan, e.g. an N-linked glycan or an O-linked glycan. In a preferred embodiment, the side group is conjugated to FVIII glycans using an enzymatic approach as disclosed in e.g. WO03031464. In another preferred embodiment, N- and/or O-linked glycans may be introduced/added to the FVIII variant according to the invention using recombinant methods. In another embodiment, the FVIII variant according to the invention is a fusion protein, such as e.g. a FVIII:Fc fusion protein.

In another embodiment, the FVIII variant according to the invention furthermore comprises amino acid alterations that have been introduced in said FVIII variant in order to increase the in vitro stability of the variant. In a preferred embodiment, a disulfide bridge has been introduced in order to increase the in vitro stability of the FVIII variant according to the invention. According to another embodiment, said FVIII variant according the invention comprises one or more stabilizing disulfide bridge. Said stabilizing sulphur bridges are preferably covalently linking two domains of the FVIII variant according to the invention.

In another embodiment, the FVIII variant according to the invention is a B domain truncated variant. In another embodiment, the FVIII variant according to the invention comprises a half life extending side group/moiety and this side group is preferably is linked to an O-glycan situated in the truncated B-domain, and wherein said half life extending moiety is removed upon activation of said FVIII variant. According to a preferred embodiment the variant comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 8, and SEQ ID NO: 9.

In another embodiment the FVIII variant according to the invention comprises a half life extending side group/moiety selected from the group consisting of a PEG group, a Fc domain, a polypeptide, and a hydrophobic side group/moiety. In a preferred embodiment, the side group is in the form of a fusion partner fused to said FVIII variant. In a preferred embodiment, the Fc domain is an IgG Fc domain having reduced effector functions, preferably comprising the following amino acid substitutions: L234A, L235E, G237A, A330S, and P331S. In one embodiment, the side groups can be conjugated to the FVIII variant according to the invention using the “glycoPEGylation” enzymatic methods disclosed in e.g. WO03031464. In another embodiment, side groups can be added to the FVIII variant according to the invention via free introduced cysteine amino acid residues.

In another embodiment, the recombinant FVIII variant according to the invention comprises the following substitutions: K2092A and F2093A. This variant is preferably conjugated to one or more half life extending moieties such as e.g. PEG, HES, poly sialic acid (PSA), and a fatty acid/fatty acid derivative, HAS.

In another embodiment, the recombinant FVIII variant according to the invention comprises the following substitutions: R2090A, K2092A, and F2093A.

In another embodiment, the recombinant FVIII variant according to the invention comprises the following substitutions: K2065A, K2092A, F2093A, and R2215A.

In another embodiment, the recombinant FVIII variant according to the invention comprises the K2092A and F2093A substitutions combined with at least one of the substitutions selected from the list consisting of: R2215A, K2065A, and R2090A

In another embodiment, the variant according to the invention comprises a substitution of at least one of the surface exposed amino acids bound by a FVIII antibody having the ability to reduce cellular uptake upon binding to FVIII.

In another embodiment, the variant according to the invention is a B domain truncated variant, wherein the sequence of the B domain is as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2.

In another embodiment, the recombinant FVIII variant according to the invention comprises a substitution of at least one of the surface exposed amino acids bound by at least one FVIII antibody having the ability to reduce cellular uptake upon binding to FVIII. Examples of antibodies of this type include the KM33 (J Biol Chem 2003; 278: 9370-9377 and WO 03/093313), ESH4 (J Biol Chem 1997), CLB-CAg117 Blood 1998; 91: 2347-2352), 4F30 and 4F161 antibodies.

A second aspect relates to DNA molecules encoding the FVIII variants according to the invention as well as expression vectors and host cells comprising such DNA molecules.

A third aspect relates to methods of making FVIII variants according to the invention. Said methods comprise incubating an appropriate host cell under appropriate conditions and subsequently isolating said FVIII variant. The recombinantly produced variant may furthermore be conjugated with e.g. a side chain, preferably using an enzymatic approach.

A fourth aspect relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising a FVIII variant according to the invention. A fifth aspect relates to a kit comprising a pharmaceutical composition comprising a FVIII variant according to the invention. The kit preferably comprises a container comprising a dry fraction comprising the FVIII variant according to the invention as well as a container comprising the buffer used for reconstituting the FVIII variant.

A sixth aspect relates to use of FVIII variant according to the invention or a pharmaceutical composition according to the invention for treatment of haemophilia, preferably haemophilia A. The present invention furthermore relates to use of a FVIII variant according to the invention for manufacturing a medicament for treating haemophilia, preferably haemophilia A.

A final aspect relates to a method of treatment of haemophilia comprising administering to a person in need thereof a therapeutically efficient amount of a FVIII variant or a pharmaceutical formulation according to the invention.

EXAMPLES Example 1: Generation of FVIII Variants

A fragment encoding the cMyc tag was inserted in the C-terminus of the heavy chain in the expression construct encoding FVIII with a 21 amino acid B domain linker (Haemophilia 2010; 16: 349-48). The expression level and activity of this FVIII-cMyc2 were similar to un-tagged FVIII. FVIII-cMyc2 was used as template for the variants and as control in the assays described in example 3-5. Additional restriction sites were added to the FVIII-cMyc2 expression construct to ease swapping of domains among variants. The A1 domain is flanked by SalI and PshAI/MfeI, A2 is flanked by PshAI/MfeI and AvrlI/NruI, A3 is flanked by AgeI/MiuI and BstZ17I/BstAPI, C1 by BstZ17I/BstAPI and SwaI/SphI and C2 by SwaI/SphI and SfiI. The site-directed mutagenesis of exposed basic amino acids (lysine or arginine) was conducted by Geneart AG (Regensburg, Germany).

Mutants with reduced affinity to LRP1 were localized to especially the feets of the C1 and C2 domains (see FIG. 2 and table 1 and 2). Combinations of C1 and C2 mutants were cloned by transferring 520 by SphI/SfiI fragments of R2215A, R2220Q, K2249A and R2320Q to the C1 mutants K2065A, R2090A and K2092A (table 2).

Example 2: Expression of the FVIII Mutants

Serum free transfection was performed using HKB11 cells (Cho M-S et al. J Biomed Sci 2002; 9: 631-63) and 293fectin (Invitrogen) following the manufacturer's recommendations. HKB11 suspension cells were grown in commercial FREESTYLE™ 293 Expression Medium (Invitrogen #. 12338-018) supplemented with 50 U mL⁻¹ penicillin and 50 ug mL⁻¹ streptomycin. Cells were grown as suspension cells in shakers and incubated at 37° C. under 5% CO₂ and 95% relative humidity. Cells were seeded at a density of 3×10⁵ cells mL⁻¹ and passaged every 3 to 4 days. Viable and total cell concentrations were evaluated by Cedex (Innovatis) analysis using image analysis software for automated cell counting. Viable cells were highlighted by their ability to exclude the dye trypan blue. Cells were harvested 96 hours after transfection and the cell pellet isolated by gentle centrifugation. Afterwards, the cell pellet was re-suspended in the FREESTYLE™ 293 Expression medium containing 0.5 M NaCl. Following gentle centrifugation, the FVIII containing supernatants were harvested and stored at −80° C. until further analysis.

Example 3: FVIII:C Measured in Chromogenic Assay

The FVIII activity (FVIII:C) of the rFVIII compound was evaluated in a chromogenic FVIII assay using Coatest SP reagents (Chromogenix) as follows: FVIII samples and a FVIII standard (human calibration plasma, Chromogenix) were diluted in Coatest assay buffer (50 mM TRIS, 150 mM NaCl, 1% BSA, pH 7.3, with preservative). Fifty μL of samples (culture supernatant or purified FVIII variants) pre-diluted 100-, 400-, 1600- and 6400-fold, standards and buffer negative control were added to 96-well Spectramax® microtiter plates in duplicates. The factor IXa/factor X reagent, the phospholipid reagent and CaCl₂ from the Coatest SP kit were mixed 5:1:3 (vol:vol:vol) and 75 μL of this added to the wells. After 15 min incubation at room temperature 50 μL of the factor Xa substrate 5-2765/thrombin inhibitor 1-2581 mix was added and the reactions incubated 5 min at room temperature before 25 μL 1 M citric acid, pH 3, was added. The absorbance at 405 nm was measured on an Envision plate reader (PerkinElmer) with absorbance at 620 nm used as reference wavelength. The value for the negative control was subtracted from all samples and a calibration curve prepared by linear regression of the absorbance values of the standards plotted vs. FVIII concentration. The specific activity was calculated by dividing the activity of the samples with the protein concentration determined by ELISA (example 4). The activity relative to the FVIII-cMyc2 template was calculated by dividing the specific activity for the FVIII variant with the specific activity for the FVIII template. The data in table 1 demonstrate a large variation in FVIII:C activity between the different FVIII variants.

The data in table 2 demonstrate that the FVIII:C activity was maintained in the selected FVIII variants.

Example 4: Total FVIII Antigen Measured in ELISA

The amount of the FVIII variants were evaluated in an ELISA from Affinity Biologicals (# F8C-EIA) as follows: Microtiter plates (NUNC™) were coated with 100 μL/well Coating antibody in PBS (0.10 M sodium phosphate; 0.145 M NaCl, pH 7.2). Plates were sealed and incubated overnight at 4° C. Plates were washed 5× in wash buffer (0.01 M sodium phosphate, 0.145 M NaCl, 0.05% TWEEN® 20, pH 7.2) and blocked in wash buffer for 30 minutes at ambient temperature. Samples were diluted in assay buffer (0.1 M HEPES; 0.1 M NaCl; 10 g/L BSA; 0.1% TWEEN 20, pH 7.2) and 10 μL diluted samples (or calibrator/diluted control) were transferred to each well. Detection antibody (100 μL) were added to the plate and incubated 1½ hour on shaker at ambient temperature. Plates were washed and 100 μL substrate (TMB monocomponent substrate, Kem-en-Tec) were added and incubate on shaker until sufficient color was developed. The reaction was stopped by adding 100 μL Stop buffer (4M H₃PO₄). The absorbance at 450 nm was measured on an Envision plate reader (PerkinElmer) with absorbance at 620 nm used as reference wavelength.

Example 5: LRP Binding in ELISA

The FVIII variants were further evaluated for the ability to bind to LRP as follows: All samples were diluted 40-fold and 80-fold in buffer without NaCl (0.1 M HEPES; 10 g/L BSA; 0.1% TWEEN 20, pH 7.2). The standard (FVIII-cMyc2) was diluted to 3000; 1000; 333; 111; 37; 12.3; 4.12 and 0 ng/mL. Microtiterplates were coated with LRP (1 ug/mL, BioMac, Leipzig, Germany) in PBS (100 μL/well) and sealed and incubated for at least 72 h at 4° C. Plates were washed 5x in buffer without NaCl, and blocked in the buffer for at least 15 min. Standard/diluted sample (50 μL/well) and buffer (150 μL/well) were added to the plates and incubated over night at room temperature in a wet chamber. Plates were washed and 100 μL/well of 1 μg/mL biotinylated anti FVIII A2 antibody (BDD-FVIII-1F5*biotin, prepared in house using standard techniques) were added and incubated 1 hour at room temperature on a shaker. Plates were washed 5x and 100 μL/well Streptavidin*HRP (KPL, Kirkegaard & Perry Laboratories, Inc.) diluted 1:20000 in buffer was added and the plates incubated 1 hour at room temperature on a shaker. Plates were washed 5x and 100 μL/well TMB monosubstrate (Kem-en-Tec) was added and plates incubated on a shaker until sufficient color was obtained. The reaction was stopped with 100 μL/well 4M H₃PO₄ before the absorbance at 450 nm was measured on an Envision plate reader (PerkinElmer) with absorbance at 620 nm used as reference wavelength. The specific LRP binding was calculated by dividing the LRP binding of the variants with the protein concentration determined by ELISA (example 4). The LRP binding relative to FVIII-cMyc2 template was calculated by dividing the specific LRP binding for the variants with the specific LRP binding for the FVIII-cMyc2 template. Table 1 shows expression level, FVIII:C activity and LRP binding of FVIII variants where surface exposed lysine or arginine residues were mutated. For some of the FVIII variants the activity and LRP binding could not be detected due to low expression level. These are marked “low cone” in the table. Most of the FVIII variants where the expression level was sufficiently high to allow analysis of LRP binding showed LRP binding close to that of the FVIII control “FVIII template” without substitutions. Some FVIII variants, e.g. K523A and K1972Q showed a decreased LRP binding concomitant with a reduction of activity. However, some of the FVIII variants with substitutions in the C1 and C2 domain, i.e. K2065A, R2090A, K2092A, R2215A, R2220Q and K2249A had reduced LRP binding (<0.53 relative to FVIII control) while the activity was maintained (>0.78 relative to FVIII control). These mutations are all located in the C1 foot and the C2 foot described above. When a mutation within this region of the C1 domain was combined with a mutation of the C2 domain (table 2) a further reduction of LRP binding was observed for the double mutations where R2215A was included. Also the R2090A-K2249A double mutant showed a larger reduction of LRP binding than seen for the single mutations. For some of the mutations where the expression level was lower than ≈350 ng/ml was it not possible to analyze LRP binding using the described assay. LRP binding of selected purified FVIII variants including lysine and arginine substitutions combined with F2093A were further analyzed by applying a range of concentrations (up to 18 nM) in the assay, and K_(d) values calculated by non-linear regression of the binding curves using the equation for one site total binding in Prism version 5.01 Software. Table 3 shows the fold increase in K_(d) relative to FVIII without mutations inserted. The higher the fold-increase in K_(d), the more is LRP binding reduced. The data shows that if two or more, i.e. up to four, of the amino acid residues in the C1 (K2065, R2090, K2092, F2093) and C2 foot (R2215, R2220 and K2249) were substituted, a substantial reduction of LRP binding was observed.

TABLE 1 LRP binding and activity of FVIII single mutants Concen- Specific FVIII tration LRP Activity Relative to template variant (ng/ml) (Binding U/ng) (mU/ng) LRP Activity FVIII 3433 0.28 14.5 1.00 1.00 template R3A <STD low conc. low conc. low conc. low conc. R4A 332 0.34 5.39 1.22 0.37 R29A 757 0.29 8.24 1.04 0.57 R33A 940 0.27 8.17 0.97 0.56 K36A 802 0.29 8.20 1.02 0.57 K47A 279 0.33 5.96 1.19 0.41 K48Q 30 low conc. low conc. low conc. low conc. K63A 548 0.34 9.04 1.22 0.62 R65A 293 0.36 7.33 1.31 0.51 K89Q 476 0.31 7.67 1.11 0.53 K107Q 525 0.10 <STD 0.37 <STD R121A 317 0.33 6.02 1.17 0.42 K123Q 901 0.14 2.40 0.49 0.17 K127A 925 0.28 8.01 0.99 0.55 K142A 781 0.26 6.49 0.95 0.45 K166A 332 0.32 7.07 1.15 0.49 R180A 422 0.33 5.03 1.19 0.35 K186A 786 0.29 8.05 1.04 0.56 K188A 651 0.29 7.28 1.05 0.50 K194A 770 0.32 8.50 1.15 0.59 K206A 669 0.27 6.44 0.97 0.44 K213A 699 0.27 7.90 0.96 0.55 R220A 629 0.34 7.30 1.21 0.50 R226A 447 0.32 7.71 1.13 0.53 K230A 1069 0.24 5.90 0.88 0.41 R240A 864 0.27 6.61 0.96 0.46 R250A 1252 0.20 5.17 0.71 0.36 K251A 2539 0.16 4.75 0.57 0.33 R279A 2237 0.19 3.14 0.67 0.22 R282Q 481 0.11 0.18 0.41 0.01 K325A 895 0.26 7.09 0.94 0.49 R336A 2123 0.21 8.42 0.76 0.58 K338A 1934 0.22 5.37 0.78 0.37 R359A 2410 0.18 6.24 0.63 0.43 R372A 3426 0.14 0.04 0.51 0.00 K376A 1811 0.19 0.14 0.67 0.01 K377A 3369 0.13 2.82 0.46 0.19 K380A 2116 0.18 4.94 0.64 0.34 R405A 3193 0.15 6.19 0.54 0.43 K408A 2165 0.18 9.45 0.64 0.65 R418A 1334 0.23 10.12 0.83 0.70 R421A 1504 0.23 8.53 0.83 0.59 K422A 1735 0.16 6.07 0.57 0.42 K424A 1075 0.14 7.78 0.50 0.54 K425Q <STD low conc. low conc. low conc. low conc. R427Q 1252 0.21 5.81 0.77 0.40 K437A 1495 0.12 8.20 0.44 0.57 R439A 881 0.30 8.30 1.09 0.57 K466Q 1082 0.20 10.16 0.70 0.70 R471A 284 low conc. 3.39 low conc. 0.23 R484A 6037 0.15 5.05 0.54 0.35 R489A 5928 0.18 4.79 0.64 0.33 R490A 3441 0.13 3.90 0.48 0.27 K493A 5584 0.06 4.70 0.20 0.32 K496A 2718 n.d.* 0.08 n.d.* 0.01 K499A 2245 0.25 6.89 0.89 0.48 K510A 3441 0.25 3.11 0.89 0.22 K512A 4527 0.16 4.58 0.58 0.32 K523A 10028 0.08 2.33 0.27 0.16 R527A 4806 0.12 5.95 0.42 0.41 R531Q 1946 0.15 0.64 0.53 0.04 R541A 1233 0.16 10.46 0.58 0.72 K556A 2612 0.21 5.35 0.75 0.37 R562A 2361 0.25 11.20 0.91 0.77 K570A 2208 0.34 12.86 1.23 0.89 R571A 2974 0.18 9.00 0.66 0.62 R583A 1959 0.21 8.65 0.75 0.60 R593A 1845 0.12 10.00 0.45 0.69 K659Q 2306 0.26 8.08 0.92 0.56 K661A 1522 0.35 6.71 1.25 0.46 R698A 1602 0.23 6.04 0.82 0.42 R700Q 759 0.38 12.16 1.36 0.84 K707A 2708 0.17 9.46 0.63 0.65 K713A 1934 0.21 9.25 0.75 0.64 R1689A 835 low conc. 1.68 low conc. 0.12 K1693A 4298 0.13 6.79 0.45 0.47 K1694A 2929 0.16 7.02 0.56 0.48 R1696Q 1233 0.11 5.64 0.41 0.39 R1705A 231 low conc. 4.87 low conc. 0.34 R1719A 2321 0.13 8.61 0.45 0.59 R1721A 2051 0.20 7.93 0.70 0.55 K1731A 60 low conc. low conc. low conc. low conc. K1732Q <STD low conc. low conc. low conc. low conc. R1749Q 1879 0.11 4.87 0.39 0.34 R1764Q 582 0.26 8.09 0.92 0.56 R1776A 1415 0.16 9.16 0.59 0.63 R1781Q 644 0.10 16.11 0.36 1.11 R1797A 1748 0.23 13.06 0.81 0.90 R1803A 1867 0.18 5.98 0.65 0.41 K1804Q 2974 0.15 6.74 0.55 0.47 K1808A 2269 0.17 13.74 0.63 0.95 K1813A 2341 0.16 13.20 0.56 0.91 K1818A 1557 0.28 14.10 1.00 0.97 K1827A 2949 0.14 8.93 0.49 0.62 K1833Q 390 low conc. 0.09 low conc. 0.01 K1845A 1063 0.22 11.11 0.79 0.77 R1869A 741 0.14 7.18 0.49 0.50 K1887A 665 0.19 13.64 0.68 0.94 R1897A 1809 0.15 10.89 0.54 0.75 R1900A 1675 0.17 11.24 0.62 0.78 K1913A 1493 0.21 8.28 0.75 0.57 R1917A 866 0.16 5.34 0.59 0.37 R1939A 980 0.17 10.46 0.61 0.72 R1941Q 348 low conc. 1.23 low conc. 0.08 R1966Q 692 0.15 3.21 0.52 0.22 K1967A 1462 0.16 7.00 0.59 0.48 K1968A 585 0.17 15.72 0.62 1.09 K1972Q 1804 0.07 1.51 0.27 0.10 K1992A 1394 0.13 4.50 0.46 0.31 R1997Q 75 low conc. low conc. low conc. low conc. K2020A 171 low conc. 9.48 low conc. 0.65 R2033A 1399 0.25 12.62 0.91 0.87 K2049A 1063 0.17 13.80 0.62 0.95 R2052A 171 0.49 7.94 1.75 0.55 K2065A 1581 0.14 11.68 0.49 0.81 K2072A 1354 0.16 9.08 0.58 0.63 K2085A 1765 0.14 11.20 0.50 0.77 R2090A 1832 0.10 16.24 0.35 1.12 K2092A 1056 0.14 12.54 0.51 0.87 K2110A 1424 0.26 13.93 0.92 0.96 K2111A 1378 0.16 8.65 0.58 0.60 R2116Q 1776 0.20 11.52 0.71 0.80 K2136A 1436 0.17 10.81 0.63 0.75 R2147A 245 low conc. 6.67 low conc. 0.46 R2150Q 896 0.23 7.36 0.84 0.51 R2159A 1095 0.15 6.40 0.54 0.44 R2163Q 483 low conc. 8.61 low conc. 0.59 K2183A 1175 0.13 11.81 0.48 0.82 K2207A 87 low conc. low conc. low conc. low conc. R2209Q 78 low conc. low conc. low conc. low conc. R2215A 1480 0.15 13.72 0.53 0.95 R2220Q 589 0.09 13.46 0.33 0.93 K2227A 1781 0.23 10.21 0.82 0.71 K2236A 789 0.22 11.90 0.79 0.82 K2239Q 1172 0.14 8.56 0.51 0.59 K2249A 1832 0.13 11.28 0.45 0.78 K2258A 1069 0.32 14.63 1.14 1.01 K2279A 371 low conc. 16.34 low conc. 1.13 K2281A 1069 0.16 15.86 0.58 1.10 R2304A 173 low conc. 6.79 low conc. 0.47 R2307Q 135 low conc. 3.63 low conc. 0.25 R2320Q 576 0.09 12.89 0.34 0.89 *n.d. represents non detectable data as K496 is included in the epitope of the biotinylated detection anti FVIII A2 antibody BDD-FVIII-1F5*biotin (example 5). Therefore LRP binding can not be detected for K496A in the assay used.

TABLE 2 Selected FVIII single and double mutants with decreased LRP binding Specific Concentration LRP Activity Relative to template FVIII variant (ng/ml) (Binding U/ng) (mU/ng) LRP Activity FVIII template 2017 0.51 6.56 1.00 1.00 K2065A 2024 0.29 7.44 0.57 1.13 R2090A 1333 0.30 9.37 0.58 1.43 K2092A 1720 0.32 7.87 0.62 1.20 R2215A 1872 0.16 8.67 0.32 1.32 R2220Q 326 low conc. 10.72 low conc. 1.63 K2249A 1984 0.33 6.20 0.64 0.95 R2320Q 386 0.39 9.55 0.77 1.46 K2065A-R2215A 1842 0.11 6.75 0.22 1.03 R2090A-R2215A 917 <detec. limit (0.13) 11.94 <detec. limit (0.26) 1.82 K2092A-R2215A 1997 <detec. limit (0.06) 8.32 <detec. limit (0.12) 1.27 K2065A-R2220Q 292 low conc. 10.89 low conc. 1.66 R2090A-R2220Q 97 low conc. 13.42 low conc. 2.05 K2092A-R2220Q 275 low conc. 9.80 low conc. 1.49 K2065A-K2249A 1531 0.31 7.17 0.60 1.09 R2090A-K2249A 838 0.15 11.09 0.29 1.69 K2092A-K2249A 833 0.24 7.39 0.47 1.13 K2065A-R2320Q <STD low conc. low conc. low conc. low conc. R2090A-R2320Q 113 low conc. 15.24 low conc. 2.32 K2092A-R2320Q 270 low conc. 10.13 low conc. 1.54

TABLE 3 LRP binding relative to wt FVIII determined by titrations in ELISA LRP binding FVIII variant (K_(d) relative to that of wt FVIII) K2065A-R2215A 2.45 K2092A-R2215A 3.34 K2092A-F2093A 2.89 K2065A-K2092A-F2093A-R2215A >20

Example 6: LRP Binding Studies by Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) Analysis

SPR analysis was performed employing a BIAcore™3000 biosensor system (Biacore AB, Uppsala, Sweden). Full length LRP (BioMac, Leipzig, Germany) was covalently coupled (10 fmol/mm²) to the dextran surface of an activated CM5-sensor chip via primary amino groups, using the amine-coupling kit as prescribed by the supplier. The FVIII derivatives FVIII-YFP, FVIII-YFP-K2092A, FVIII-YFP-F2093A and FVIII-YFP-K2092A-F2093A were constructed and expressed as described (Blood 2009; 114: 3938-3945), except that the anti-FVIII antibody CLB-CAg 117 was replaced by the single chain antibody fragment VK34 (Blood 2000; 96: 540-545) which has been constructed into the full length IgG monoclonal antibody VK34 as described (Br J Haematol 2008; 142: 644-652). FVIII was loaded on the VK34 Sepharose® column in 50 mM imidazole (pH 6.7), 50 mM CaCl₂, 0.8 M NaCl. After loading, the column was subsequently washed with 50 mM imidazole (pH 6.7), 50 mM CaCl₂, 0.8 M NaCl and 50 mM imidazole (pH 6.4), 40 mM CaCl₂, 5% (v/v) ethylene glycol buffer. Next, FVIII was eluted from the VK34 Sepharose column in 50 mM imidazole (pH 6.4), 40 mM CaCl₂, 55% (v/v) ethylene glycol. FVIII containing fractions were diluted in 50 mM Tris (pH 8.0), 100 mM NaCl, 5 mM CaCl₀ 10% (v/v) glycerol and absorbed to Q Sepharose FF (Amersham Biosciences, Belgium). Subsequently, the Q Sepharose column was washed with 50 mM Tris (pH 8.0), 100 mM NaCl, 5 mM CaCl₀ 10% (v/v) glycerol. FVII was eluted from the Q Sepharose column in 50 mM Tris (pH 7.4), 5 mM CaCl₂, 0.8 M NaCl, 50% (v/v) glycerol and stored at −20° C. The purified FVIII variants maintained full activity as assessed by the ratio of 0.92-1.03 between activity (FVIII Coatest method, Chromogenix, Milan, Italy) and antigen (FVIII ELISA, see Blood 2009; 114: 3938-3945). FVIII derivatives (60 nM) were passed over immobilized LRP, and the binding response in resonance units (RU), corrected for non-specific binding, was recorded during 360 seconds of association.

Table 4 shows that LRP binding of FVIII-K2092A was decreased approximately 100 RU as compared to FVIII-YFP without substitutions, while the binding of FVIII-F2093A was decreased only slightly (17 RU). However, when combining the two substitutions in the C1 foot a substantial decrease in LRP binding (approximately 200 RU) was observed.

TABLE 4 LRP binding of FVIII-YFP and variants measured by SPR FVIII variant Binding response at 360 seconds (RU) FVIII-YFP 320 FVIII-YFP-K2092A 219 FVIII-YFP-F2093A 303 FVIII-YFP-K2092A-F2093A 116

Example 7: LRP Binding of FVIII Light Chain Variant

The K2065R, K2065A, K2092R and K2092A point mutations and K2065R-K2092R and K2065A-K2092A double mutations were introduced in the FVIII light chain by Quick Change Mutagenesis™ (Stratagene, La Jolla, Calif., USA) using appropriate primers as indicated by the manufactures. Serum free transfection of the FVIII light chain variants was performed using FREESTYLE™ 293-F cells (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif., USA, # R790-07) and 293fectin (Invitrogen) following the manufacturer's recommendations. FREESTYLE™ 293-F cells suspension cells were grown in commercial FREESTYLE™ 293 Expression Medium (Invitrogen #. 12338-018). Cells were grown as suspension cells in shakers and incubated at 37° C. under 8% CO2 and 95% relative humidity. Cells were seeded at a density of 3×10⁵ cells mL-1 and passaged every 3 to 4 days. Cells were harvested 120 hours after transfection and the cell pellet isolated by gentle centrifugation. Afterwards, the cell pellet was re-suspended in the FREESTYLE™ 293 Expression medium containing 0.55 M NaCl. Following gentle centrifugation, the FVIII light chain containing supernatants were harvested and stored at −20° C. until further analysis. LRP cluster II was expressed in Baby Hamster Kidney (BHK) cells and purified as described (J Biol Chem. 2003; 278:9370-7). Association and dissociation of LRP cluster II to the FVIII light chain variants K2065A, K2092A, K2065A-K2092A, K2065R, K2092R and K2065R-K2092R was assessed by SPR analysis employing a BIAcore 3000 biosensor (Biacore AB, Uppsala, Sweden).

The anti-C2 antibody CLB-EL14 IgG4 (Br J Haematol 2008; 142:644-652) was immobilized onto a CMS sensor chip to a density of 27 fmol/mm² using the amine coupling method according to the manufacturer's instructions. Subsequently, FVIII light chain variants K2065A, K2092A, K2065A-K2092A, K2065R, K2092R and K2065R-K2092R were bound to the anti-C2 antibody at a density of 17 fmol/mm². Varying concentrations (0.2-200 nM) of LRP cluster II were passed over the FVIII light chain variants K2065A, K2092A, K2065A-K2092A, K2065R, K2092R and K2065R-K2092R in a buffer containing 150 mM NaCl, 5 mM CaCl2, 0.005% (v/v) TWEEN 20 and 20 Mm HEPES (pH 7.4) at 25° C. with a flow rate of 20 μL/min. The sensor chip surface was regenerated three times after each concentration of LRP cluster II using the same buffer containing 1 M NaCl. Binding to FVIII light chain variants K2065A, K2092A, K2065A-K2092A, K2065R, K2092R and K2065R-K2092R was recorded during 240 seconds of association and corrected for non-specific binding. Binding data during the association phase were fitted in a one-phase exponential association model. Responses at equilibrium were plotted as a function of the LRP cluster II concentration. The responses at equilibrium were fitted by non-linear regression using a standard hyperbola to obtain K_(D) values (GraphPad Prism 4 software, San Diego, Calif., USA).

Table 5 shows that LRP cluster II binding to the FVIII light chain variant carrying two lysine replacements in the C1 domain at positions K2065 and K2092 is more impaired than a FVIII light chain variant carrying one lysine replacement in the C1 domain at position K2065 or K2092.

TABLE 5 Affinity of FVIII light chain C1 variants for LRP cluster II as measured by SPR. FVIII light chain variant K_(D) for LRP cluster II binding (nM) wt FVIII 33 ± 2 K2065R 78 ± 6 K2092R 45 ± 4 K2065R-K2092R 95 ± 8 K2065A 84 ± 7 K2092A 46 ± 4 K2065A-K2092A 248 ± 16

Example 8: Cellular Uptake of FVIII

A variety of cells are expressing LRP and related endocytic receptors. These include the human glioblastoma cell line U87 MG cells which are known in the art to express high levels of LRP (Cancer Res 2000; 60: 2300-2303) These cells are particularly useful for studying LRP-mediated cellular uptake of LRP binding ligands such as FVIII. U87 MG cells were obtained from ATCC (HTB-14). The cells were grown in 24 wells plates for 48 hours on EMEM supplemented with 10% heat inactivated FCS at 37° C. in 5% CO₂. Cells were washed with a buffer containing 10 mM HEPES (pH 7.4), 135 mM NaCl, 10 mM KCl, 5 mM CaCl₂, 2 mM MgSO₄ and incubated for 15 minutes at 37° C. with 40 nM FVIII-YFP, FVIII-YFP-K2092A, FVIII-YFP-F2093A and FVIII-YFP-K2092A-F2093A (variants prepared as described in example 6). Cells were subsequently washed respectively with the same HEPES buffer and TBS (20 mM Tris-HCl, 150 mM NaCl). Cells were collected employing trypsin, neutralized with EMEM supplemented with 10% heat inactivated FCS, washed with TBS and resuspended in TBS+0.5% (w/v) BSA. Uptake of FVIII was determined by flow cytometry analysis. For cell binding studies, cells were incubated for 15 minutes at 4° C. with 10 mM HEPES (pH 7.4), 135 mM NaCl, 10 mM KCl, 5 mM CaCl₂, 2 mM MgSO₄. Next, cells were incubated for 45 minutes at 4° C. with 40 nM FVIII-YFP, FVIII-YFP-K2092A, FVIII-YFP-F2093A and FVIII-YFP-K2092A-F2093A. Cells were subsequently washed with icecold TBS and then with icecold TBS containing 0.5% (w/v) BSA. Cells were scraped and resuspended in TBS+0.5% (w/v) BSA. FVIII binding and uptake was measured using a fluorescence-activated cell sorter (Becton Dickinson LSR II flow cytometer). Noise was reduced during analysis by eliminating events with forward and side scatter values different from those characteristic for U87MG cells. Flow cytometry data were collected using FacsDiva version 5.0.3 (Becton Dickinson) and downloaded into the program FlowJo for analysis. Table 6 shows the mean fluorescence intensity of U87 MG cells in the presence of FVIII-YFP-K2092A, FVIII-YFP-F2093A and FVIII-YFP-K2092A-F2093A at 4° C. (cell binding) and at 37° C. (cellular uptake).

The data show that cell binding and uptake of FVIII-YFP-K2092A, FVIII-YFP-F2093A and FVIII-YFP-K2092A-F2093A by LRP expressing cells was reduced compared to FVIII-YFP without mutations.

TABLE 6 Binding and uptake of FVIII-YFP and variants thereof by LRP expressing cells FVIII-YFP (mean fluorescence intensity) FVIII variant Binding (4° C.) Uptake (37° C.) FVIII-YFP 11750 5900 FVIII-YFP-K2092A 6500 1230 FVIII-YFP-F2093A 4960 1350 FVIII-YFP-K2092A-F2093A 4750 1310

Example 9: Maintained Specific Activity of FVIII C1 Double and Triple Mutants

FVIII variants FVIII-R2090A, FVIII-K2092A-F2093A and FVIII-R2090A-K2092A-F2093A were prepared as described in example 6. The FVIII activity was measured in a chromogenic FVIII assay as described in example 6. Protein concentrations were measured using the Brad-ford method (Anal Biochem 1976; 72: 248-254). The properties of the purified proteins are listed in Table 7. The specific activity was calculated by dividing the activity with the protein concentration or the antigen. FVIII with the K2092A-F2093A and the R2090A-K2092A-F2093A mutations maintained activity.

TABLE 7 Activity of FVIII-K2092A-F2093A and FVIII-R2090A-K2092A-F2093A. FVIII Specific Protein activity activity FVIII variant (μg/ml) (IU/ml) (IU/μg) wt FVIII 3070 19338 6.3 FVIII-K2092A-F2093A 4546 43917 9.7 FVIII-R2090A-K2092A-F2093A 4853 40194 8.3

Example 10: Cellular Uptake of FVIII C1 Double and Triple Mutant

Endocytosis of the FVIII-K2092A-F2093A and FVIII-R2090A-K2092A-F2093A mutants without the YFP (yellow fluorescence protein) fusion partner was analyzed in U87MG cells (see example 8). Cells were incubated for 15 minutes at 37° C. with 10 mM HEPES (pH 7.4), 135 mM NaCl, 10 mM KCl, 5 mM CaCl₂, 2 mM MgSO₄. Next, cells were incubated for 45 min with different amounts of wild type FVIII, FVIII-K2092A-F2093A or FVIII-R2090A-K2092A-F2093A. Cells were subsequently washed with ice-cold TBS (50 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.6, 150 mM NaCl), scraped off, resuspended in ice-cold TBS and washed once with ice-cold TBS. Subsequently, cells were fixed with 1% freshly dissolved ultrapure methanol-free paraformaldehyde (Polysciences, Eppelheim, Germany) and incubated with FITC-conjugated monoclonal anti-FVIII antibody CLB-CAg117 in the presence of 0.05% saponin in TBS containing 0.5% HSA. Mean fluorescence intensities were determined by flow cytometry using LSRII (BD Biosciences, Uppsala, Sweden).

The results are summarized in Table 8. FVIII is endocytosed in a dose-dependent manner by U87MG cells. Uptake of FVIII-K2092A-F2093A was severely impaired. Assessment of the uptake of FVIII-R2090A-K2092A-F2093A revealed that the uptake of this variant was even more reduced when compared to that of FVIII-K2092A-F2093A. These results show that replacement of R2090, K2092 and F2093 resulted in a FVIII molecule with reduced uptake in LRP expressing cells.

TABLE 8 Uptake of FVIII-K2092A-F2093A and FVIII- R2090A-K2092A-F2093A in U87MG cells FVIII uptake at the noted concentration added (fluorescence intensity)¹ FVIII variant 5 nM 10 nM 20 nM 40 nM 80 nM wt FVIII 2042 4230 6187 10390 13724 FVIII- 1944 2715 4070 4745 9048 K2092A/F2093A FVIII-R2090A- 1558 1629 1953 3804 3859 K2092A-F2093A ¹The mean fluorescence intensity obtained in the absence of FVIII was 737

Example 11: Cellular Uptake of FVIII C1 and C2 Double Mutants

Collagen-coated 24 wells plates (Blood 2002; 99:457-462) were seeded with U87MG cells in DMEM-F12 supplemented with 10% heat inactivated FCS at 37° C. in 5% CO₂. Cells were grown to confluence, washed with a buffer containing 10 mM HEPES (pH 7.4), 135 mM NaCl, 10 mM KCl, 5 mM CaCl₂, 2 mM MgSO₄, and were incubated for 30 minutes at 37° C. with 40 nM FVIII-K2065A, FVIII-K2249A, FVIII-K2065A-K2249A, FVIII-K2092A, FVIII-R2215A, or FVIII-K2092A-R2215A (see examples 1 and 2). Cells were collected by scraping in TBS (20 mM Tris-HCl, 150 mM NaCl) supplemented with 0.5% BSA. Cells were re-suspended and fixed for 15 minutes at room temperature in 0.4% ultrapure methanol-free paraformaldehyde (Polysciences, Eppelheim, Germany). Fixed cells were incubated for 60 minutes at room temperature with mouse anti-cMyc antibody 9E10 (Sigma, M4439) that was diluted 500-fold in TBS, 1% BSA, 0.3% saponin. Cells were washed with TBS, 0.5% BSA, and subsequently incubated for 45 minutes at room temperature with the secondary antibody Alexa Flour 488 goat anti-mouse antibody (Invitrogen, A-11001) that was diluted 200-fold in TBS, 1% BSA, 0.3% saponin. Cell were washed and re-suspended in TBS, 0.5% BSA and analyzed employing a fluorescence-activated cell sorter (Becton Dickinson LSR II flow cytometer) as described in example 8. Table 9 displays the mean fluorescence intensity of the cells. The single substitutions show a reduced uptake as compared to WT FVIII. The strongest defect in cellular uptake is however observed for the variants carrying a substitution in both the C1 and the C2 domain.

TABLE 9 Cellular uptake of FVIII variants (40 nM) with substitutions in the C1 domain and/or the C2 domain. Uptake of FVIII variant FVIII variant relative to wt FVIII (%) wt FVIII 100 FVIII-K2092A 65 FVIII-K2065A 75 FVIII-R2215A 77 FVIII-K2249A 57 FVIII-K2065A-K2249A 29 FVIII-K2092A-R2215A 41 FVIII-K2065A-R2215A 48

Example 12: Cellular Uptake of FVIII by Dendritic Cells

Dendritic cells mediate uptake of FVIII before presentation to the immune system and potentially elicit an immune response (Blood 2007; 109: 610-612, J Thromb Haemost 2009; 7: 1816-1823). Dendritic cells express LRP as well as other endocytotic receptors. The cellular uptake of FVIII variants was further investigated using human monocyte-derived dendritic cells, human monocyte derived macrophages and murine bone marrow derived dendritic cells. Monocytes were isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells from apheresis samples using CD14 microbeads, a magnetic cell separator and a Elutra™ cell separation system as described previously (Vaccine 2007; 25: 7145-52). Monocytes were differentiated into dendritic cells in CellGro DC medium supplemented with 100 U/ml penicillin, 100 μg/ml streptomycin, 1000 U/ml human recombinant GM-CSF and 800 U/ml human recombinant IL-4. After 4-6 days of cell culturing, immature phenotype of the cells was evaluated by determining cell surface markers CD14, CD80, CD83 and CD86. To monitor uptake of FVIII variants by flow cytometry approximately 2×10⁵ of immature DCs were first washed once with serum-free medium and incubated with FVIII in 120 μl of serum-free CellGro DC medium for 30 minutes at 37° C. After FVIII uptake, cells were washed with ice-cold TBS, fixed with 1% freshly prepared paraformaldehyde and incubated with FITC-conjugated monoclonal anti-FVIII antibody CLB-CAg117 in presence or absence of 0.05% saponin in TBS containing 0.5% human serum albumin. Mean fluorescence intensities and percentage of positive cells were determined by flow cytometry using LSRII (BD Biosciences, Uppsala, Sweden). The results of uptake experiments employing purified wild type FVIII, FVIII-K2092A-F2093A, and FVIII-R2090A-K2092A-F2093A are depicted in Table 10.

The results show a dose-dependent uptake of wild type FVIII by human dendritic cells. The variant FVIII-K2092A-F2093A shows a strongly reduced uptake by dendritic cells, whereas FVIII-R2090A-K2092A-F2093A reveals an even more pronounced decrease in its uptake by dendritic cells. These results show that replacement of R2090, K2092 and F2093 strongly reduces the uptake of FVIII by dendritic cells.

TABLE 10 Uptake of wt FVIII, FVIII-K2092A-F2093A, and FVIII-R2090A- K2092A-F2093A in human monocyte-derived dendritic cells. FVIII uptake at the noted concentration added (fluorescence intensity)¹ FVIII variant 10 nM 20 nM 40 nM wt FVIII 10950 15550 24550 FVIII-K2092A-F2093A 5912 7448 10800 FVIII-R2090A-K2092A- 3308 4074 5905 F2093A ¹The mean fluorescence intensity obtained in the absence of FVIII was 1635.

Example 13: Cellular Uptake of FVIII in Macrophages

Macrophages are also able to take up FVIII in liver and spleen and to present FVIII to the immune system (Blood 2008; 112: 1704-1712, J Thromb Haemost 2009; 7: 1816-1823) and the uptake of the FVIII variants was therefore further evaluated using human monocyte derived macrophages. Monocytes were isolated as described in example 10 and differentiated into macrophages by incubating for 5 days in RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 10% FCS, 100 U/ml penicillin, 100 μg/ml streptomycin and 50 ng/ml recombinant human M-CSF. To monitor uptake of FVIII variants by flow cytometry approximately 2×10⁵ of macrophages were first washed once with serum-free medium and incubated with 15 nM FVIII in 120 μl of serum-free CellGro DC medium for 30 minutes at 37° C. After FVIII uptake, cells were washed with ice-cold TBS, fixed with 1% freshly prepared paraformaldehyde and incubated with FITC-conjugated monoclonal anti-FVIII antibody CLB-CAg117 in presence or absence of 0.05% saponin in TBS containing 0.5% human serum albumin. Mean fluorescence intensities and percentage of positive cells were determined by flow cytometry using LSRII (BD Biosciences, Uppsala, Sweden).

The results of uptake experiments employing wildtype FVIII, FVIII-R2090A, FVIII-K2092A-F2093A, and FVIII-R2090A-K2092A-F2093A are depicted in Table 11. The results re-veal that uptake of FVIII-R2090A is slightly reduced, whereas a strong decline in uptake is observed for FVIII-K2092A-F2093A. An even more pronounced reduction in uptake is observed for FVIII-R2090A-K2092A-F2093A. These results show that replacement of R2090, K2092 and F2093 reduces the uptake of FVIII also by macrophages.

TABLE 11 Uptake of wt FVIII, FVIII-K2092A-F2093A, and FVIII-R2090A-K2092A-F2093A (15 nM) in human monocyte-derived macrophages. FVIII uptake at the noted concentration added FVIII variant (fluorescence intensity)¹ Control (no FVIII added) 3900 ± 114 wt FVIII 13965 ± 555  FVIII-R2090A  9642 ± 1440 FVIII-K2092A-F2093A 7937 ± 118 FVIII-R2090A-K2092A- 5773 ± 103 F2093A ¹Values are mean and SD of at least 3 experiments.

Example 14: Cellular Uptake of FVIII by Murine Bone Marrow Derived Dendritic Cells

Subsequently the uptake FVIII variants was addressed using murine bone marrow derived dendritic cells. Bone marrow cells were isolated by flushing femurs from hemophilic E17 KO mice with PBS supplemented with 2% FCS. The bone marrow suspension was incubated in Tris-NH₄C1 at room temperature for 2 minutes to lyse erythrocytes. Finally, the cells were resuspended at 1×10⁶ cells/ml containing 20 ng/ml mouse recombinant GM-CSF and cultured for 7-9 days in RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 2.5 mM HEPES, 55 mM 2-mercaptoethanol, 100 U/ml penicillin, 100 μg/ml streptomycin, 5 mM glutamine and 10% FCS. Expression of CD11c, CD11 b, CD80, CD86 and Gr-1 was measured on day 7-9. Uptake of FVIII was studied as described above for human monocyte derived dendritic cells and macrophages. The results of FVIII uptake experiments are presented in Table 12. The results show that FVIII-R2090A is endocytosed at a slightly reduced level as compare to wildtype FVIII whereas endocytosis of FVIII-K2092A-F2093A is more severely impaired. Endocytosis of FVIII-R2090A-K2092A-F2093A is more severely impaired when compared to FVIII-K2092A-F2093A. These results show that replacement of R2090, K2092 and F2093 reduces the uptake of FVIII also by murine bone marrow derived dendritic cells.

TABLE 12 Uptake of wt FVIII, FVIII-R2090A, FVIII-K2092A- F2093A, and FVIII-R2090A-K2092A-F2093A (15 nM) in murine bone-marrow derived dendritic cells. FVIII uptake FVIII variant (fluorescence intensity)¹ Control (no FVIII added) 1968 ± 235 wt FVIII 8661 ± 206 FVIII-R2090A 7907 ± 305 FVIII-K2092A-F2093A 5099 ± 275 FVIII-R2090A-K2092A-F2093A 3389 ± 93  ¹Values are mean and SD of at least 3 experiments.

Overall, findings reported in example 8 and 10-14 teach how to define residues contributing to interactive surfaces in FVIII that mediate its endocytosis by a variety of LRP expressing cells, including human dendritic cells and macrophages as well as murine dendritic cells.

Example 15: Anti FVIII C1 and C2 Antibodies Blocking FVIII Cellular Uptake

As an alternative approach to define residues contributing to FVIII cellular uptake a panel of antibodies with epitopes within all domains of FVIII was applied in FVIII cell binding studies employing U87MG cells (see example 8), primary rat hepatocytes and human monocyte derived macrophages. The antibodies ESH-2, ESH-4, ESH-5, and ESH-8 (Thromb Haemost 1986; 55: 40-46) are commercially available from American Diagnostica. KM33 is described in J Biol Chem 2003; 278: 9370-9377 and WO 03/093313. CLB-CAg117 is described in Blood 1998; 91: 2347-2352. The remaining antibodies were prepared in house after immunization of mice with FVIII using standard techniques for preparation of monoclonal antibodies. Freshly isolated primary rat hepatocytes prepared in house or purchased from Biopredic International (Rennes, France) were used. Briefly, anesthetized Sprague Dawley rats were opened and the portal vein cannulated while the vena cava was tied and then clipped following commencement of perfusion with HEPES buffer (25 mM HEPES, 0.38 mM Na₂HPO₄, 0.35 mM KH₂PO₄, 5.36 mM KCl, 0.11 M NaCl, 22 mM glucose, pH7.4). The tissue was digested with 120 mg collagenase (Sigma C-5138) in HEPES buffer and subsequently flushed with 5 mM CaCl₂ in HEPES buffer. The capsule tissue around the liver was peeled off to free the cells into wash buffer (D-MEM/F12 with L-Glutamine and 15 Mm HEPES (Gibco) supplemented with 1% BSA and 0.1 mM hydrocortisone hemisuccinate (Sigma) and 1 nM insulin (Sigma)). Cells were centrifuged at 50×g and supernatant discarded. The cell pellet was resuspended in William's E medium (Biopredic International, Rennes, France) supplemented with 2 mM L-glutamine, 100 UI/mL insulin, 100 μg/mL streptomycin and 5 μM hydrocortisone hemisuccinate. Hepatocytes were seeded in 24 well tissue culture plates at a density of 2.5×105 cells/well for a total of 48 h. Monocytes were isolated by magnetic separation using magnetic anti-CD14-beads (Miltenyi) and a MACS® column (Miltenyi) according to the manufactures instructions. The monocytes (0.5×10⁶ cells/ml) were seeded in T-75 tissue culture flasks and added 3.3 ng/ml M-CSF (R&D Systems). Additional 3.3 ng/ml M-CSF was added after three days cell culturing. After six days were the macrophages washed with PBS and incubated 10-20 min at 4° C. with 2.5 mM EDTA in PBS with 5% FCS.

Cells were seeded in 48-well tissue culture plates at a density of 3.5×10⁵ cells/well and incubated overnight. U87 cells and macrophages were carefully washed with buffer A (100 mM HEPES, 150 mM NaCl, 4 KCl, 11 mM Glucose, pH 7.4) and incubated for 15 min with buffer B (buffer A supplemented with 5 mM CaCl₂ and 1 mg/ml BSA). Anti FVIII antibodies (final concentration 10 μg/ml) was added to ¹²⁵I-FVIII (final concentration 1 nM) and incubated 10 min before adding to the cells and incubating overnight at 4° C. Cells were subsequently washed two times with ice-cold buffer B and lysed with 200 mM NaOH, 1% SDS, 10 mM EDTA. A similar protocol was used for the primary rat hepatocytes except that media was used instead of buffer. ¹²⁵I in the lysate was counted in a γ-counter (Cobra). Bound ¹²⁵I in the absence of anti FVIII antibodies was set to 100%. Table 13 shows the effect of the anti FVIII antibodies on binding of ¹²⁵I-FVIII to U87MG cells, macrophages and hepatocytes. The data shows that it is only the anti C1 antibodies KM33 and 4F30 and some of the anti C2 antibodies, i.e. ESH-4, 4F161 and CLB-CAg117, that inhibit FVIII binding to the cells. Notably, the panel of antibodies have similar effect on all three cell types analyzed indicating that it is the same epitopes on FVIII that is involved in cellular uptake irrespectively of cell type.

TABLE 13 Inhibition of FVIII cell binding by anti C1 and anti C2 antibodies ¹²⁵I-FVIII binding (% of pos control)² Anti- Macro- Hepato- body Epitopes¹ U87MG phages cytes ESH5 A1 159 ± 12 178 ± 42  81 1F4 A2  79 ± 16  99 ± 15 107 ± 29  1F5 A2  87 ± 10 119 ± 13 n/a 1F10 A2 66 ± 5 104 ± 26 97 ± 22 1F2 A2 (720-740) 80 ± 9 110 ± 10 107 ± 14  4F36 A3 (1649-1871) 140 ± 14 219 ± 58 153 4F30 C1 24 ± 2  27 ± 10 3 ± 3 KM33 C1 (K2092-S2094) 23 ± 2  47 ± 17 5 ± 0 4F45 light chain 110 ± 12 138 ± 34 n/a ESH2 light chain 107 ± 28 155 ± 23 n/a ESH8 C2 (2248-2285) 92 ± 9 115 ± 20 92 ± 14 ESH4 C2 (2173-2222, 32 ± 3  50 ± 21 18 ± 4  2248-2285 and/or 2303-2322) 4F161 C2 35 ± 7 n/a n/a CLB- C2 40 ± 7 n/a n/a CAg117 ¹The domain location of epitopes for the in house antibodies was determined by Western blotting. For KM33 the epitope has partly been described (Blood 2009; 114: 3938-3946, J Thromb Haemost 2007; 5 suppl 2: abstract P-M-040). Data on potential epitopes for the ESH antibodies are described in the datasheet from American Diagnostica and J Biol Chem 1997; 272: 18007-18014, Thromb Haemost 2003; 89: 795-802, J Mol Recognit 2009; 22: 301-306, Blood 1995; 86: 1811-1819, Biochemistry 2005; 44: 13858-13865 (see Description of the Invention). ²The data for U87 MG cells and macrophages are mean and standard deviation for n = 3 or more, while n = 1-3 for hepatocytes. n/a = not analyzed

Example 163: Anti FVIII C1 and C2 Antibodies Prolong Half-Life of FVIII In Vivo

FVIII prepared as described (Haemophilia 2010, 16; 349-359) was mixed with scFv or fab fragments of anti C1 and/or anti C2 antibodies in an amount ensuring A8% initial saturation of FVIII in vivo using K_(d) values from surface plasmon resonance experiments and assuming a 20-fold dilution of test substance in vivo. This 20-fold dilution was based on a distribution volume of 70 ml/kg obtained for FVIII when administered alone, an estimated weight of the mice of 28.6 g and a volume of the test substance of 0.1 ml. FVIII alone (280 IU/kg) or mixed with antibodies were administered intravenously to VWF-deficent mice (n=6 per group). Blood were taken from the orbital plexus t=0.08; 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 h. Three samples were taken from each mouse, and 3 samples were collected at each time point. Blood were immediately stabilized with sodium citrate and diluted in four volumes buffer (50 mM Tris, 150 mM NaCl, 1% BSA, pH 7.3, with preservative) before 5 min centrifugation at 4000×g. Plasma was frozen on dry ice and kept at −80° C. before analysis of FVIII antigen. The mean values were used for estimations of pharmacokinetic parameters, using a non-compartmental approach (Phoenix™ WinNonlin® Pro 6.1). The resulting PK values are shown in Table 14. While FVIII alone has a relatively fast clearance in the VWF-deficient mice, blocking either C1 or C2 resulted in decreased clearance and prolonged half-life (T½) and mean residence time. Blocking both an epitope in C1 and an epitope in C2 simultaneously resulted in a further decreased clearance and a prolonged T½ and mean residence time as compared to adding only one of the antibodies. This shows that the antibodies KM33 and 4F161 shield epitopes of FVIII involved in cellular uptake and thereby prolonging the half-life of FVIII.

TABLE 14 Pharmacokinetics of FVIII co-administrated with anti C1 and/or anti C2 antibody fragments in VWF-deficient mice Pharmacokinetic parameters T½ Clearance Mean Residence Time Test compound (h) (mL/h/kg) (h) FVIII 0.47 167 0.3 FVIII + KM33 scFv 1.2 55 1.7 FVIII + 4F161 fab 1.3 76 1.7 FVIII + KM33 scFv + 2.0 25 3.0 4F161 fab

Example 17: Epitopes of FVIII C1 and C2 Antibodies Blocking Cellular Uptake and Prolonging In Vivo Clearance

The epitopes of the antibodies blocking cellular uptake described in Example 13 was mapped by hydrogen exchange mass spectrometry (HX-MS). The HX-MS technology exploits that hydrogen exchange (HX) of a protein can readily be followed by mass spectrometry (MS).

By replacing the aqueous solvent containing hydrogen with aqueous solvent containing deuterium, incorporation of a deuterium atom at a given site in a protein will give rise to an increase in mass of 1 Da. This mass increase can be monitored as a function of time by mass spectrometry in quenched samples of the exchange reaction. The deuterium labelling information can be sub-localized to regions in the protein by pepsin digestion under quench conditions and following the mass increase of the resulting peptides. One use of HX-MS is to probe for sites involved in molecular interactions by identifying regions of reduced hydrogen exchange upon protein-protein complex formation. Usually, binding interfaces will be revealed by marked reductions in hydrogen exchange due to steric exclusion of solvent. Protein-protein complex formation may be detected by HX-MS simply by measuring the total amount of deuterium incorporated in either protein members in the presence and absence of the respective binding partner as a function of time. The HX-MS technique uses the native components, i.e. protein and antibody or Fab fragment, and is performed in solution. Thus HX-MS provides the possibility for mimicking the in vivo conditions (Mass Spectrom. Rev. 25, 158 (2006). FVIII (Haemophilia 2010, 16; 349-359) and the antibodies KM33 and 4F30, (see example 14) were buffer ex-changed into 20 mM Imidazole, 10 mM CaCl₂, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.3, before analysis. The HX experiments were automated by a Leap robot (H/D-x PAL; Leap Technologies Inc.) operated by the LEAPShell software (Leap Technologies Inc.), which performed initiation of the deuterium exchange reaction, reaction time control, quench reaction, injection onto the UPLC system and digestion time control. The Leap robot was equipped with two temperature controlled stacks maintained at 20° C. for buffer storage and HX reactions and maintained at 2° C. for storage of protein and quench solution, respectively. The Leap robot furthermore contained a cooled Trio VS unit (Leap Technologies Inc.) holding the pepsin-, pre- and analytical columns, and the LC tubing and switching valves at 1° C. The switching valves have been upgraded from HPLC to Microbore UHPLC switch valves (Cheminert, VICI AG). For the inline pepsin digestion, 100 μL quenched sample containing 0.15 pmol FVIII was loaded and passed over a Poroszyme® Immobilized Pepsin Cartridge (2.1×30 mm, Applied Biosystems) using a isocratic flow rate of 200 μL/min (0.1% formic acid:CH₃OH 95:5). The resulting peptides were trapped and desalted on a VanGuard pre-column BEH C18 1.7 μm (2.1×5 mm, Waters Inc.). Subsequently, the valves were switched to place the pre-column inline with the analytical column, UPLC®-BEH C18 1.7 μm (2.1×100 mm, Waters Inc.), and the peptides separated using a 9 min gradient of 15-40% B delivered at 150 μL/min from an AQUITY UPLC® system (Waters Inc.). The mobile phases consisted of A: 0.1% formic acid and B: 0.1% formic acid in CH₃CN. The ESI MS data, and the elevated energy (MS^(E)) experiments were acquired in positive ion mode using a Q-Tof Premier MS (Waters Inc.). Leucine-enkephalin was used as the lock mass ([M+H]⁺ ion at m/z 556.2771) and data was collected in continuum mode. Peptic peptides were identified in separate experiments using MS^(E) methods (Waters Inc.). MS^(E) data were processed using BiopharmaLynx 1.2 (version 017). HX-MS raw data files were subjected to continuous lockmass-correction. Data analysis, i.e., centroid determination of deuterated peptides and plotting of in-exchange curves, was performed using HX-Express (Version Beta; J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrom. 2006; 17: 1700).

Amide hydrogen/deuterium exchange (HX) was initiated by preparation of FVIII solutions in a concentration of 30 μM in the absence or presence of either 4F30, or KM33 into the corresponding deuterated buffer, i.e., 20 mM imidazole, 10 mM CaCl₂, 150 mM NaCl, prepared in D₂O, 98% D₂O final, pH 7.3 (uncorrected value)). All HX reactions were carried out at 20° C. and contained 3 μM FVIII in the absence or presence of excess FVIII mAbs (4.5 uM) to ensure saturation of FVIII with antibody. At appropriate time intervals ranging from 10 sec to 2 hours 46 min 40 s (10.000 s), aliquots of the HX reaction were quenched by an equal volume of ice-cold quenching buffer 1.35M TCEP (Tris(2-Carboxyethyl)-Phosphine Hydrochloride (Calbiochem®, EMD Chemicals inc.)) resulting in a final pH of 2.6 (uncorrected value).

The peptide map of the pepsin digestion of FVIII contained 653 peptides (>20 ionscore), which covered 82% of the N8 sequence.

The deuterium incorporation rate (HX time-course) of 653 peptides, covering 82% of the primary sequence of FVIII, were monitored in the presence and absence of KM33 at 4 time points, i.e., 10 s, 100 s, 1,000 s, and 10,000 s (FIGS. 3A, 4, 5).

The observed exchange pattern in the presence or absence of KM33 may be divided into two groups: One group of peptides display an exchange pattern that is unaffected by the binding of both 4F30 and KM33 (FIG. 4 [aa 2062-2073 and 2163-2168]), which comprises 99.2% of the peptides. In contrast, another group of FVIII peptic peptides show protection from exchange upon with both 4F30 and KM33 (FIG. 4), which includes 0.8% of the peptic peptides. For example at 100 s exchange with D₂O, approximately 1 amide is protected from exchange in the region aa 2148-2161 upon both 4F30 and KM33 binding (FIG. 4). The region displaying protection upon KM33 binding includes 4 peptic peptides covering residues aa 2075-2095, 2077-2095, 2078-2095 and 2148-2161. Thus the epitope of both 4F30 and KM33 are to be found within the linear sequences aa 2075-2095 and 2148-2161 (using mature numbering). The epitope map-ping of 4F30 and KM33 to FVIII revealed the two ligands to have identical epitopes. While it has previously been described that K2092-S2094 are involved in the epitope of KM33 (see references in table 13), the remaining part of the epitope has not been identified.

Example 18: Introduction of a Glycan in FVIII-R2159N Block Binding to an Anti-C1 Domain Antibody (KM33) which Prolongs FVIII Cellular Uptake and In Vivo Half-Life

Replacement of R2159 by asparagine in the C1 domain region 2157-SIRST-2161 introduces a consensus sequence for N-linked glycosylation (i.e. N-X-S/T, see page 22) at position 2159 which is involved in the epitope of KM33 (see example 17). FVIII-R2159N was constructed employing QuickChange mutagenesis using the DNA of wt FVIII as a template (Blood 2009; 133:3102-3109). FVIII-R2159N and wt FVIII were expressed as described (Plos One 2011; 6(8):e24163. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0024163). The introduction of the additional N-linked glycan in the FVIII light chain was confirmed by SDS-PAGE, where a reduced mobility of the FVIII light chain was observed. FVIII activity was measured in a chromogenic FVIII assay as described in example 3. FVIII antigen was measured in an ELISA using CLB-EL14 IgG4 (Br J Haematol 2008; 142:644-652) as capture antibody, peroxidase-labelled CLB-CAg69 (Biochem J 1989; 263: 187-94) as a detection antibody, and human pooled plasma from 40 donors as a standard. Association of antibody KM33 (see example 15) to wt FVIII and FVIII-R2159N was assessed by SPR analysis employing a BIAcore 3000 biosensor (Biacore AB, Uppsala, Sweden). Anti-C2 antibody CLB-EL14 IgG4 was immobilized onto a CM5 sensor chip to a density of 33 fmol/mm² employing the amine coupling method according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Subsequently, FVIII-R2159N or wt FVIII was bound to EL14 IgG4 to a density of 3 fmol/mm². KM33 (100 nM) was passed over FVIII-R2159N or wt FVIII in a buffer containing 150 mM NaCl, 5 mM CaCl2, 0.005% (v/v) TWEEN 20 and 20 mM HEPES (pH 7.4) at 25° C. with a flow rate of 20 μL/min. The binding response was recorded during 240 seconds of association and corrected for non-specific binding. Table 15 shows the binding response after 235 seconds of association as well as the activity and antigen concentration of wt FVIII and FVIII-R2159N. The results show that introduction of the glycan completely abolishes the binding of FVIII to KM33 while the activity of FVIII is not impaired by the introduction of the glycan. As KM33 binding to FVIII reduces cellular uptake and prolong in vivo half-life, it is likely that FVIII-R2159N showing abolished KM33 binding also will display reduced cellular uptake and prolonged in vivo half-life.

TABLE 15 Activity and KM33 binding wt FVIII and FVIII-R2159N Binding Response (RU) Activity/ of KM33 after 235 seconds FVIII Activity Antigen antigen of association to variant (U/ml) (U/ml) ratio the FVIII variant. wt FVIII 1.05 1.71 0.62 154 FVIII- 0.41 0.52 0.79 0 R2159N

Example 19: Prolongation of Liver Clearance of FVIII K2062A-F2093A

Liver clearance of FVIII-K2092A-F2093F was evaluated in a perfused liver model (Thromb Haemost 2010; 104, 243-251). Briefly, the livers of anesthetized Sprague Dawley rats were cannulated via the portal vein and vena cava and perfused with Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate buffer (115 mM NaCl, 25 mM NaHCO₃, 5.9 mM KCl, 1.2 mM MgSO₄, 1.2 mM, KH₂PO₄, 2.5 mM CaCl₂) at 25 ml/min. Before entering the liver, the perfusate flows through a fiberdialyser (Gambro® Scandidact Hemophan® Fiber Dialyzer 100HG, Secon, Dransfeld, Germany) which is saturated with an oxygen:carbon dioxide mixture (95:5). FVIII (Haemophilia 2010, 16; 349-359) or FVIII-K2092A-F2093A was added to the buffer and mixed before samples taken from the recirculating perfusate at time points from 0 to 80 min. FVIII:C in the perfusate was analyzed by a chromogenic assay as described in example 3. The T % of FVIII-K2092A-F2093A was prolonged as compared to that of wild-type FVIII (Table 16) demonstrating a decreased liver clearance of FVIII-K2092A-F2093A as compared to FVIII without C1 substitutions.

TABLE 16 Clearance of FVIII and FVIII-K2092A- F2093A in perfused rat livers. FVIII variant T½ (min)¹ Wild-type FVIII 31 ± 3 FVIII-K2092A-F2093A 113 ± 48 ¹Data are mean and standard deviation of n = 3 experiments.

Example 20: Prolongation of In Vivo Half-Life of FVIII-K2092A-F2093A

In vivo pharmacokinetics of the K2093A-F2093A mutant was further evaluated in VWF-deficient mice. Wildtype FVIII (Haemophilia 2010, 16; 349-359) and FVIII-K2092A-F2093A was 40K-PEGylated specific on an O-linked glycan in the B-domain as described in WO09108806. wt FVIII, K2092-F2093A and PEGylated FVIII (40K-PEG-FVIII) and mutant (40K-PEG-K2092A-F2093A) were administered to VWF-deficient mice at a dose of 280 IU/kg (n=3-6 per group) as described in example 16. Blood samples were taken at three time points from each mice, i.e. at t=0.5, 1.25 and 2 h post dosing for FVIII and K2092-F2093A and 4, 7 and 24 h post dosing for the PEGylated proteins, and analyzed for FVIII:C as described in example 3. The C1 mutations K2092A-F20963A resulted in approximately a doubling of T % both for the PEGylated as well as for the non-PEGylated FVIII proteins (Table 17) thus confirming that substitution of K2092-F2093 in FVIII resulted in prolonged in vivo half-life.

TABLE 17 Influence of the K2092-F2093A mutation on in vivo half-life. T½ (h) Test compound mean 95% conficence intervals wt FVIII 0.3 0.3-0.4 K2092A-F2093A 0.6 0.5-0.8 40K-PEG-FVIII 6.5 4.9-9.5 40K-PEG-FVIII-K2092A-F2093A 10.5  9.6-11.7

Example 18: Reduced T-Cell Response of FVIII-R2090A-K2092A-F2093A

It is well-established that the interaction of FVIII with antigen presenting cells provides a crucial step in the formation of FVIII specific CD4+ T cells which subsequently stimulate the production of antibodies directed towards FVIII. The CD4⁺ T cell responses of splenocytes from mice injected with wild type FVIII (wt FVIII) and FVIII-R2090A-K2092A-F2093A were analyzed as follows: Spleens collected after weekly injections of FVIII were pooled within the groups.

Erythrocytes were removed and CD8+ cells were depleted by magnetic bead separation using beads coated with the anti-mouse CD8 antibody Lyt 1.2 (eBioscience). Remaining CD8⁻ cells were cultured in round-bottomed 96-well plates for 72 or 96 hours in X-VIVO 15 medium supplemented with 100 U/ml penicillin, 100 mg/ml streptomycin (all from BioWhittaker; Walkersville, Md.) and 55 μM β-mercaptoethanol (Sigma-Aldrich, Irvine, UK) in presence of increasing FVIII concentration (0, 0.1, 0.5 or 1 μg/ml) to generate antigen-specific T cell proliferation or concanavalin A (1 μg/ml) to generate nonspecific proliferation. Proliferation was assayed by the addition of 1 ρCi/well of [³H]thymidine (ICN Pharmaceuticals, Irvine, Calif.) for the last 18-20 hours. The results shown in Table 18 are expressed in counts per minute (CPM) values (mean±SD) or as the stimulation index (SI: CPM of cells incubated with antigen divided by CPM of cells with medium alone). Injection of mice with FVIII-R2090-K2092A-F2093A led to significantly reduced proliferation of splenic CD4⁺ T cells upon in vitro restimulation with FVIII when compared to wt FVIII showing that the reduced uptake of FVIII-R2090A-K2092A-F2093A in antigen presenting cells translates into a reduction of CD4+ T cell responses in mice.

TABLE 18 CD4+ T cell responses of splenocytes derived from mice treated with 5 intravenous injections of FVIII WT and FVIII-R2090A-K2092A-F2093A. FVIII concentration (ug/ml) 0 0.1 0.5 1.0 ConA Proliferation after 72 h (CPM): wt FVIII 1169 ± 193 4052 ± 1309 6731 ± 838 8437 ± 865 77892 ± 6623 FVIII-R2090A- 1352 ± 383 2464 ± 433  2908 ± 376 3226 ± 656  66944 ± 13127 K2092A-F2093A Proliferation after 72 h (SI): wt FVIII 1.0 4.12 ± 0.01  5.76 ± 0.71  7.22 ± 0.74 48.29 ± 0.74 FVIII-R2090A- 1.0 1.82 ± 0.32  2.15 ± 0.28  2.39 ± 0.49 48.64 ± 9.34 K2092A-F2093A Proliferation after 96 h (CPM): wt FVIII 1496 ± 380 7755 ± 1346 13722 ± 1598 15766 ± 2664 37699 ± 2660 FVIII-R2090A- 1435 ± 229 4069 ± 723  5841 ± 680 6110 ± 300 46531 ± 4917 K2092A-F2093A Proliferation after 96 h (SI): wt FVIII 1.0 4.12 ± 0.01  5.76 ± 0.71  7.22 ± 0.74 48.29 ± 0.74 FVIII-R2090A- 1.0 1.82 ± 0.32  2.15 ± 0.28  2.39 ± 0.49 48.64 ± 9.34 K2092A-F2093A

Example 22: Reduced Level of Antibodies in Mice Receiving FVIII-R2090A-K2092A-F2093A

The consequence of the reduced uptake of FVIII variants by antigen presenting cells on immunogenicity of these variants was furthermore assessed in a murine model for inhibitor formation in hemophilia A. Wildtype FVIII and FVIII-R2090A-K2092A-F2093A were diluted to 10 μg/ml in sterile PBS and a dose of 100 μl (1 μg) was administered intravenously (i.v.) in male FVIII exon 17 KO mice (n=8) five times weekly. One week after the last injection animals were sacrificed and blood samples were collected. The presence of anti-FVIII antibodies in plasma samples from treated FVIII-KO mice was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) and Bethesda assay measuring the ability of the mice plasma to inhibit FVIII activity. For the ELISA, plasma derived FVIII (5 μg/ml) in buffer containing 50 mM NaHCO₃ pH 9.8 was immobilized in microtiter wells. Plates were blocked with 2% gelatin in PBS. Mouse plasma dilutions were prepared in 50 mM Tris, 150 mM NaCl, 2% BSA, pH 7.4. Mouse monoclonal anti-FVIII antibody CLB-CAg9 was used as a standard. Anti-FVIII antibodies were detected with goat anti-mouse IgG-HRP. The concentration of anti-FVIII antibodies in murine plasma are displayed in arbitrary units (AU), where 1 AU corresponds to signal obtained by 1 μg of CLB-CAg9. The Bethesda assay was performed essentially as described (Thromb Diath Haemorrh 1975; 34: 612). Data was analyzed using non-parametric Mann-Whitney U-test. The antibody titers observed in mouse plasma following 5 weekly injections of FVIII and FVIII-R2090A-K2092A-F2093A are displayed in Table 19. The results show that infusion of FVIII results in the formation of antibodies directed towards FVIII. A significant reduction in antibody titers is observed in mice treated with FVIII-R2090A-K2092A-F2093A (p<0.05). Also the Bethesda titer reflecting the presence of neutralizing anti FVIII antibodies were significantly reduced (p<0.05). These findings show that the reduced uptake of FVIII-R2090A-K2092A-F2093A in antigen presenting cells and the reduced T-cell response translates into a reduction of inhibitor titres in a murine model for inhibitor development in hemophilia A. Together, these results show that specific modification of FVIII leading to reduction in its endocytosis by antigen presenting cells, is an effective way to reduce FVIII immunogenicity in vivo. Our results therefore suggest that FVIII variants that display a reduced cellular uptake carry a reduced risk of inhibitor development in patients with hemophilia A.

TABLE 19 Antibody titers in plasma of mice treated with 5 intravenous injections of FVIII and FVIII-R2090A-K2092A-F2093A. ELISA Bethesda titer FVIII variant (AU)¹ (BU/ml)¹ FVIII WT 252200 ± 81840 364 ± 98 FVIII-R2090A-K2092A-F2093A  81910 ± 11690 118 ± 48 ¹Results are mean ± SEM of data from 8 animals. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A recombinant Factor VIII (FVIII) variant having FVIII activity, wherein the recombinant FVIII variant consists of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 4, 5, 7 and
 8. 2. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a recombinant FVIII variant according to claim
 1. 3. A method for treating hemophilia comprising administering the recombinant FVIII variant according to claim 1 to a subject in need thereof.
 4. A conjugate comprising the recombinant FVIII variant of claim 1 and a half-life extending agent selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol (PEG), poly sialic acid (PSA), and heparosan (HEP).
 5. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the conjugate according to claim
 4. 6. A method for treating hemophilia comprising administering the conjugate according to claim 4 to a subject in need thereof. 